Pep Guardiola SLAMS Manchester City’s performance in defeat to Southampton

Pep Guardiola said Manchester City have no chance in Saturday’s clash with Manchester United if they repeat the poor performance that kept them out of the Carabao Cup in Southampton tonight.

City failed to register a shot on goal for the first time in a game since April 2018 (against Liverpool) and Southampton deservedly advanced to set up a semi-final clash with Newcastle.

Guardiola said his team was nowhere near its prime and was second best against the bottom club in the Premier League. “The best team won,” he said. They were better. We don’t play well. We had a bad start and we didn’t do well.

Pep Guardiola criticized Man City’s performance in their Carabao Cup loss to Southampton

It was a poor performance from City, who were mediocre and out of sorts throughout the game.

‘Today was not even close to what we are. We were not prepared to play in this competition to reach the semifinals. We weren’t ready.

‘You have to be ready for every game when you play for Manchester City and today we weren’t.

‘If we act like this (in the Manchester derby) we don’t have a chance. I have the feeling that nowadays the training doesn’t matter, the acting happens. We weren’t here.

It is the second successive victory for the man under pressure from Southampton manager Nathan Jones, who had been the subject of jeers and “you don’t know what you’re doing” chants from Saints fans just seven days ago.

Southampton secured a 2-0 victory and will now face Newcastle in the Carabao Cup semi-final.

Pep Guardiola had never lost a domestic cup quarter-final before, winning all 15 games.

“I’ve had people calling me, people saying I’m this and that, non-league managers saying I’m not good enough,” he said, referring to a dig by Havant and Waterlooville boss Paul Doswell. ‘So this is a reward for the last few weeks.

I have worked very hard during my 33-year football career and I have earned the right to be here. I’m good enough. It’s been hard, but this is what I’m paid to do.

‘This is one of the best teams in the world with the best coach in the world. We showed that we can be a very good Premier League team.

‘I want to build a free, fluid and attacking style. It cannot happen overnight. Pep has created one of the best teams of all time. It didn’t take four weeks. I’m not David Blaine!

Southampton boss Nathan Jones was delighted with the win and hit back at his critics.

‘Within 10 minutes of the Brighton game (one loss), I was inept. Everyone needs time, no coach in the world has a magic wand.

‘I am really satisfied with the performance. I thought we were great. We were aggressive, organized and went after the game. We scored two good goals and we could have scored more, we were hardly defending our lives.

I am very proud of my players, myself and my coaching staff. I hope tonight serves to justify why we are here.

So will the Welshman celebrate victory when he is at home?

“I’ll be up until 3am watching Everton (before the Premier League game on Saturday),” he joked. ‘I could have a glass of wine and then reality bites. At least I won’t get any abuse!