Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has warned his side to expect a difficult test when Southampton visit the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Spaniard addressed the media on Friday as he looked ahead to City’s home clash against the Saints this weekend and, as quoted by the club’s official website, lavished praise on Mark Hughes’ side. Guardiola said:
I’m impressed with the quality they have up front and especially in the middle. They have talented players. They play so deep and so physical.
Southampton have been in treacherous form recently and have not scored a goal in their last five Premier League outings. City, meanwhile, have not yet lost a match in the top-flight and scored 27 goals in their opening 10 fixtures.
Guardiola reflected on the last time that Manchester City welcomed Southampton to the Etihad, as a 96th-minute winner from Raheem Sterling secured a late 2-1 win for the eventual Premier League champions.
The City boss highlighted this match as a reflection of Southampton’s resolve as a team, insisting that it would be no easy task yet again for his men on Sunday. Guardiola said:
It was so hard to beat them and so complicated. We have to be sharp and move well in small spaces and concede few chances in set pieces as they are strong there too.
