S Poddar
The manner in which Manchester City overpowered Southampton might have given an impression of one-sided victory but was indeed a tactical duel under the surface. Southampton were fighting against all odds as City ran away with three points. It was a possession game by Southampton, which earned praise from Pep Guardiola.
South of the coast, Southampton manager Russell Martin has come in with a style that’s all about possession of the ball, intricate passing, and building up on the pitch. Such a style is ambitious for a side that’s just been promoted but some of the game’s greatest minds appreciate it.
Guardiola, known for his own possession-based tactics, has been impressed especially by the ability of Southampton to retain possession under pressure and make chances through patient build-up play. He admitted his team was unable to gain possession back and that he could learn lessons from Martin’s side.
“We were not sloppy, we were not flat, but we struggled to regain the ball because they are really good,” said Guardiola. “I’m a spectator. I prefer the players get the ball to feet, not the teeth. I think when I see the opponent do the things I want my team to do, and they do it well, I make a compliment. I’m sure I will learn, there were some movements, the reasons why they do things, the movements they make to link to the striker. It’s not easy.”
Even Phil Foden, who has been coached by Guardiola for several years, was impressed by Southampton’s approach. He praised Martin’s side for their bravery and their willingness to play out from the back, even against a team as dominant as Manchester City.
Martin’s philosophy clearly sounds founded in deep-set belief in his methods. He has had a life times of adversity to withstand during his managerial career but continued to cling to the tenets of attractive possession-based football. This blind belief is something that wins respect both for him from the players as well as peers.
“I will live and die by the sword for what I believe in,” Martin said. “If we keep playing like we did today we will have some fun and be all right.”
While Southampton’s league position remains quite precarious, at least their performance has been good. They have been playing in a keen style that enables them to compete with big teams like Manchester City, and that’s the reason for their confidence and it was shown in this game too.
It will be interesting to see how the team performs in the Premier League season with Martin in charge. If they keep playing like this, with a lot of bravery and skill, they may just surprise everyone and inspire another one of the greatest managers of all time.
