Rúben Dias felt Southampton did little more than waste time throughout the match.
The Manchester City defender simply couldn’t accept his team’s failure to secure a win against the bottom-of-the-table side. Visibly frustrated and disappointed, Dias directed his anger at the opposition, criticizing their overly defensive approach.
City’s title hopes had already slipped away after a poor run of form in mid-season, ending their quest for a fifth consecutive Premier League crown. Still, the team had reasons to stay motivated — a shot at finishing in the top five for Champions League qualification and potentially winning the FA Cup.
But their momentum took a blow on Saturday as Pep Guardiola’s side was held to a frustrating draw at Southampton. City likely expected a comfortable victory against a side with just two wins and 11 points from their previous 35 matches. However, they struggled right from the kickoff, particularly in a lifeless first half where their attacks lacked sharpness.
City improved significantly in the second half, mounting wave after wave of attacks and creating numerous chances. Yet Southampton stayed deep in their half, rarely attempting counterattacks. The match eventually ended in a goalless draw.
After the final whistle, Dias expressed his frustration with Southampton’s ultra-defensive game plan.
“It’s disappointing. From this point in the league, every point is crucial, and playing against a team like this is very frustrating. They didn’t even try to play. They just wasted time the entire match.”
“I didn’t even feel like they wanted to play or win. They just wasted time (around the penalty area). But what’s done is done. We tried everything. We had chances, but we couldn’t score. What happened, happened. We move forward with this draw.”
The stats backed up Dias’ frustration: City had nearly 70% possession and took 26 shots, five on target. Southampton managed just two shots, neither of which tested the keeper.
Late in the game, you wouldn’t have guessed Southampton had endured such a tough season. Their fans erupted with joy every time City’s attacks were repelled, celebrating a rare result to cheer.
And for good reason — Southampton were staring down the possibility of ending the season with the worst record in Premier League history. Derby County’s 11-point finish in 2007–08 had been the lowest, but the Saints surpassed that with this draw, moving to 12 points.
City’s stumble, however, leaves them vulnerable. They sit third with 65 points from 36 games (19 wins and 8 draws). Arsenal, with a game in hand, are second with 67 points.
Newcastle United and Chelsea, both on 63 points, are set to face off on Sunday. The winner of that match could leapfrog City into third.
