Manchester City were left frustrated after a stalemate against Southampton, but the Saints couldn’t resist a cheeky dig on social media following Pep Guardiola and Ruben Dias’ post-match complaints.
Despite dominating possession and firing 26 shots, City failed to break down a resolute Southampton defense in a 0-0 draw. The Saints, already relegated to the Championship, celebrated a hard-earned point—one they humorously described as “a point without even trying to play” in response to City’s accusations of time-wasting and defensive tactics.
Guardiola’s side, chasing a top-four finish, controlled 70% of the ball but couldn’t find a way past Southampton’s deep block. The hosts didn’t register a single shot on target, instead focusing on frustrating their opponents—a strategy that clearly irritated City’s players and manager.
Dias didn’t hold back in his assessment, saying: “It’s frustrating playing against a team like that. They didn’t even try to play—just wasted time the whole match. I don’t think they wanted to win or even compete. They just sat back. We created chances but couldn’t finish. That’s football.”
Guardiola echoed the sentiment, admitting: “It was tough. We had opportunities but couldn’t convert. Southampton just defended, defended, and wasted time. Still, we take the point—it’s in our hands. I didn’t expect them to sit so deep. Defensively, we were solid, but we lacked that final touch.”
The result, while disappointing for City, was a small victory for Southampton, who edged past the Premier League’s lowest-ever points tally (11) with their 12th point of the season—sparing them from breaking Derby County’s infamous 2007/08 record.
