Guardiola: We have huge respect for Southampton | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says he and his players will give Southampton the full respect they deserve when the teams meet on Saturday.

The relegated Saints sit at the foot of the Premier League after an incredibly tough campaign that has seen two managers dismissed and just 11 points collated so far.

But the in-form Blues will be taking nothing for granted at St Mary’s – exactly the opposite, in fact, according to Guardiola.

“It starts 0-0 and is a massively important game for us, definitely,” said Pep.

“It’s just three games left, after that game it’s two. We have a huge respect for them.

“It’s the best results we’ve got in a row; we didn’t have that this season. I know at the beginning of the season we did it, but yeah, we can do better.”

With City able to draw level on points with Arsenal with a victory over Southampton, the boss was asked if he saw this game as an opportunity to boost his team’s goal difference.

The second-placed Gunners have a nine-goal difference advantage ahead of their game against Liverpool, but Pep insisted securing a win is the only thing on his mind going into the game – not what the score-line could possibly be if his team do win.

“No, not at all,” he said.

“We have huge respect from us for Southampton. If we take a look at Arsenal to help us with that view to help us qualify for the Champions League then that’s fine, but the target is to qualify for the next Champions League season.

“We can do better, we’re happy for the results we have but the situation is to sustain for many months, it’s just been a few weeks.

“I think there are six or seven teams wo can qualify [for the top five] so we have to make the points then after if we make three victories we’ll be there.

“It’s in our hands, this is what we have to do, win one game then the next one and the next one.”

Asked about the possibility of being runners-up in the Premier League and winning the FA Cup, Pep added: “I’m not thinking about that, sorry to tell you.

“It’s Southampton in my mind, all week I’ve been thinking of them, it’s all I’m concerned with.”

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