Southampton braced for tough test at wounded City – Puel

That left the 10-man Blues at the mercy of Lionel Messi, who plundered the second and third goals of a hat-trick, with Neymar adding a fourth to condemn Guardiola to the joint-worst defeat of his managerial career. “In seven years, I won 21 titles, so it is three titles a year playing in that way”. The decision about Sergio Aguero?

Bravo received a straight red card in the 53rd minute for handling outside the box, and at the time, Barca were only 1-0 up.

Southampton manager Claude Puel insists City remain the team to beat in the Premier League despite their recent blip and refutes suggestions that now is the best time to be facing Guardiola’s wobbling side. It stays the same. “We’ll just do the same and I’m sure we’ll be ready for this game”. We appreciate him a lot.

“The decision was not wrong in that moment but the action [he chose], he did not pass good”, Guardiola said.

“We must keep working hard and look at the next games”.

Southampton travel to Manchester on the back of an unlucky 1-0 defeat at Inter Milan in the Europa League on Thursday, but with excellent Premier League form, including a four-game unbeaten run which has taken them up to eighth in the table. They lost but I was really impressed.

The manager spoke about Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero following the midweek game, saying the Belgian centre-back was not fit enough to play and that Aguero was named on the bench for tactical reasons.

Guardiola said: “It was my idea”.

“I wanted one midfield player more in the middle”.

But the demanding Spaniard admits if he has failed to get City playing exactly the way he wants by next season he will quit.

Meanwhile, Kompany was left out of the squad entirely, with the Belgian defender still looking to put his injury woes firmly behind him and prove his fitness before getting back into the starting line-up. With 10 the game was over.

“After two months in the job, I think we need to take a step backwards: He’s clearly good – but he’s not a genius like the late Brian Clough was”.

Barca coach Luis Enrique admitted the result may have flattered his side but was pleased with his forwards’ efficiency.

Pep stood strong beside Chilean keeper Claudio Bravo who came into criticism for his mistake which led to his sending off and eventually costing City the game.”I know from the beginning when Claudio is going to make a mistake, he will be on the front page”.

“We are going to play the way we play for the quality of our players and we did it many times this year”.