Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan is expecting Southampton to put in an aggressive performance in the Carabao Cup later tonight.
The Saints come into the game on the back of a disastrous 9-0 defeat against Leicester City in the Premier League last Friday.
However, Gundogan feels that this is more reason for the defending champions to worry, because Southampton will be extra motivated to bounce back.
As quoted on the Manchester City website, the German said:
I don’t think it will make the game any easier. I think they will defend aggressively and sit quite deep, so it will probably all be about the chances we create.
We will have to be careful because any chances they do get to test us, they will be a threat so we will have to be careful from set-pieces.
Does Gundogan have a point?
READ SOUTHAMPTON VERDICT
He’s right that the Saints could pose a danger from set-pieces. City aren’t the best at defending corners and they’ve got multiple senior centre-backs missing, meaning the Saints could fancy their chances in the air.
He’s also right that the visitors may defend deep and look to pounce on the counter with pace.
Fans need a positive reaction from the players and this is the Etihad is of the hardest stages to do so.
