Hasenhüttl on City defeat

By SFC Media time Sun 30 Dec Saints v Man City
Photo by Matt Watson | Southampton FC

Ralph Hasenhüttl was left to rue the key moments in the match after seeing his side fall to a 3-1 defeat to Manchester City in the Premier League.

The reigning champions took the lead through David Silva, before a goal from Pierre-Emile Højbjerg levelled things up.

But two late goals in the first-half turned the contest and proved decisive before Højbjerg was dismissed late on for a challenge on Fernandinho.

“I think in the first 20 minutes Manchester City showed how strong they are. Their pressing was amazing but we showed character and our mentality in that period of the game,” Hasenhüttl began.

“Making it 1-1 showed exactly how we wanted to press them sometimes. We know that they are very, very good in possession but if you press in the right moment then you have a chance to win the ball early and score which is what we did.

“Then you could feel that Manchester City weren’t as strong mentally in that moment as they were at the beginning which gave us a chance to come back into the game.

“We gave it away in a very poor way and a very easy way. We have to talk about that because it was the same against West Ham.

“At the break we made the decision that we don’t go all in and take too much risk. We wanted to show in the second-half that we can defend and not to lose the second-half if you want.

“Then maybe you get a second goal and I think we have one header off a free-kick which could have given us a chance to come back.

“The substitutions I made were very focussed on the Chelsea game. The worst moment of the evening was the red card for Pierre because on 85 minutes the game was gone and it was silly, which he knows. It could cost us a lot.”

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