Southampton manager Claude Puel has spoken of his happiness at collecting a point from his side’s clash against Manchester City given the “difficult” timings regarding the fixture schedule, the Daily Echo have reported.

It was important of course to change for me the team. Manchester (City) had two days more of recovery and it was important to resist and to keep this result for my players.

We finished the last game against Inter Milan with a big disappointment and it was important to have a fantastic spirit, strong mentality and a good organisation.

Saints managed to take a solid draw away from the Etihad yesterday as Nathan Redmond’s early goal helped them towards yet another positive result.

Perhaps you can make better on the play but it’s difficult against this team because they have great players and they can do the difference every time. It’s a good point for us.

Kelechi Iheanacho equalised for the hosts in the early stages of the second-half but Puel’s men defended exceptionally well and kept a good structure throughout.

It’s very difficult every time to play the best and the best game, because to play every three days is very very difficult. All the teams who play the Europa League or the Champions League are in difficulties of course.

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The Premier League is a strong championship with good teams, strong teams, and it is difficult every time to finish every time your Europa League or Champions League game and after play with a team with good organisation. It is difficult.

Both Sam McQueen and Cuco Martina, third-choice full-backs at the club, were forced to play another full match, with the pair featuring in a massive amount of games in the past week.

We can see a bit of tiredness to finish this game. For example, for Martina or McQueen, it was difficult to finish this game.

Puel will be hoping to continue his rotation strategy with good results when Sunderland come to visit on Wednesday night in the fourth round of the EFL Cup.

Perhaps against us it was different because we play just two days ago in the Europa League and it was difficult for us to finish this game. I think every opponent give all the possibilities against Manchester because they are near the top of the championship.

It’s likely that we’ll see some younger players against David Moyes’ men, giving some key players a rest.