- Southampton drew 0-0 with Man City to pass the league’s lowest points tally
- Ruben Dias criticised Saints’ approach to the match in a post-match interview
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! Are Arsenal even close to achieving big things?
Southampton have aimed a dig at Ruben Dias following their stalemate with Manchester City on Saturday.
The Saints held Pep Guardiola’s men to a 0-0 draw at St Mary’s, officially passing the lowest Premier League points tally held by Derby County, in a small boost at the end of a disappointing season.
City defender Ruben Dias launched an attack on the relegated side as he criticised their approach to the match.
‘They don’t even try to play, just wasting time the whole game,’ stormed Dias. ‘It’s not good for anyone.’
Southampton, though, have since responded to the Portugal international as they posted a TikTok compilation of several of City’s failed crosses throughout the 90 minutes.
The South Coast club captioned it: ‘Guess neither of us wanted to play’.
Southampton have aimed a dig at Ruben Dias following their stalemate with Manchester City
The Saints officially passed the lowest Premier League points tally held by Derby.
City missed the chance to move level on points with second-placed Arsenal and delivered a blunt attacking display against the already-relegated hosts – who are resigned to a rock-bottom finish – despite Erling Haaland’s return.
Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was untroubled for much of the contest but was finally called into action as he clawed away a header from the irritated Dias.
Omar Marmoush later cracked the woodwork with a long-range effort, condemning City to costly dropped points in the race for the Champions League while the Saints ensured they will not go down in history as the top-flight’s worst-ever side.
The defender also took aim at the ‘dry’ St Mary’s pitch, adding: ‘It’s sad that Southampton waste time the way they do. They just want to stop the game and make it as slow as possible because then the grass that is dry.
‘All those things that makes the game slower and slower and we have to fight against it, and try and make it as quick as possible because it’s the way to get in.’
Pep Guardiola, however, disagreed with Dias’ verdict.
Responding to the comments, the City boss said: ‘No, no, no. Absolutely not.
‘They can do whatever they want. For many years here we faced teams in different approaches and they decided they have to play. It’s on us to break them.
Dias also placed the blame for City’s blunt attacking display on the ‘dry’ surface
‘In those terms, many times teams have played five in the back or six and the striker has gone on our holding midfielder and there’s no space, it’s difficult.
‘You have to break it and we had the chances, when you review the chances for nothing we could not score and it happened.
‘Now we prepare [for the FA Cup final] and now it is next time and Fulham.
‘We did not concede one shot on target and they didn’t do much but we have to accept the way they play, it belongs to Simon [Rusk] and his assistant coaches. I don’t agree with Ruben, we have to accept it.’
Southampton also made a cheeky reference to Dias’ outburst, tweeting: ‘A point without even trying to play’ alongside two photos of smiling players after the final whistle.
