Man City defender Ruben Dias slams Southampton after goalless draw: ‘They didn’t even try to play’ | OneFootball

Manchester City defender Ruben Dias criticised Southampton’s approach to the game in their goalless draw.

City were held to a point against Simon Rusk’s already relegated side, a potentially costly result in the race for Champions League qualification.

And Dias took aim at the way Southampton approached the game, with Man City dominating possession and missing several big chances to score.

“It’s frustrating because obviously every point matter right now,” he said.

“It’s frustrating to play a team like them. They don’t even try to play. They’re just wasting time the whole game. I don’t even feel like they want to play the game or win the game, they just sit in.

“But it is what it is. We tried every way. Obviously we had chances, we didn’t score, but it is what it is. We didn’t score so we take the draw, we take one point and we move forward.

“We always look at ourselves first and understand the process. One or two things could have gone better but in the end we end up being on top of them the whole game, created chances, we didn’t score them, it’s football.”

Pep Guardiola, however, was more accepting of the Saints’ tactics, insisting it was on his side to break them down.

Asked about Dias’ comments, the City boss responded: “They can do whatever they want.

“They decide, being relegated, to play in that way, so it’s our duty to break them. This is what we have to do.

“There’s no space, it’s difficult. You have to break on the transition, with creativity, with free-kicks. We had the chances but we could not score.

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“It’s always difficult when a team plays in that way. Long balls, you cannot press.

“We have three games left, one in the FA Cup. I didn’t expect differently a month ago that it’s a fight until the end.”