Manchester City

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Southampton and Manchester City.

Here are some of your comments:

Southampton fans

James: Finally something to cheer about. I think Simon Rusk is helping us grow with the team so I think he should give it a shot as a full-time manager.

Mark: So, Ruben Dias didn't like the way we played. It isn't our job to make life easier for Man City. They have a squad worth six or seven times ours but they weren't good enough on the day to win. Well done, lads.

Ryan: A combination of us being resolute and City not moving out of first gear. Nice to surpass the lowest ever Premier League points tally, but still wouldn't mind being a bit more forward thinking. Hard to pick a MOTM after that display.

Steven: We fought, we cared and we were worthy of the point. If only we could have set up and played with that much heart all season. Who knows where we could have been?

Man City fans

Tony: Dreadful display. Guardiola played a safety side instead of going for it from the first minute, with Jeremy Doku or Savinho and Omar Marmoush in from the start. Foden is away with the fairies and Erling Haaland is hopeless in tight spaces.

Mark: I think us supporters deserve an apology for that performance, by the manager and the players. What was Haaland doing? Was he actually playing, because he was totally anonymous throughout the game. The supporters deserve better.

Nigel: Fair play to Southampton - they had a task and stuck to it admirably. Our team selection was questionable but I guess understandable given the final next week. But we didn't offer enough going forward. Teams know how to set up against us and our set-pieces are predictable and almost always terrible, Pep needs a change of set-piece coach I think. Perhaps with Marmoush starting or brought on earlier it may have yielded greater reward. A huge opportunity missed to apply pressure on Arsenal for second place and practically cement a Champions League spot.

Rory: Underwhelming is an understatement. Pep got his tactics all wrong today. Rushed back Haaland when a fully-fit Marmoush was always the better option. It's difficult to admit given all he's done for the club but I worry making the same selection (Haaland over Marmoush) in our final two league fixtures may cost us Champions League football next season.

Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna is remaining silent about a move to sign Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, 33, on a free transfer when he leaves Manchester City at the end of his contract this summer. (Calciomercato - in Italian), external

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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola speaking to BBC Sport after the goalless draw with Southampton: "Difficult. We had chances but unfortunately couldn't score. [Southampton were] playing to defend and defend and defend and waste time. We take that point still, it's in our hands.

"Didn't expect them to defend so deep. Defensively we were so good but unfortunately we missed the last actions.

"He [Erling Haaland] didn't expect to play as many minutes but the way the game was played we needed people in the box.

"That point was really important."

Image source, Reuters

It's going to be tight at the top.

After unexpectedly dropping two points at Southampton, Manchester City's place in next season's Champions League does not look so secure.

City ended the game in third place but just two points above Newcastle and Chelsea - who meet on Sunday - with Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa also in close attendance.

City end their league season with games against Bournemouth and Fulham and could need maximum points to make sure of a top-five finish.

"That point was really important," said Pep Guardiola.

"We take that point still, it's in our hands."

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City have failed to score in four of their last 11 Premier League games, as many blanks as in their previous 55 in the competition. City have failed to score in six Premier League games this season – their most in a single top-flight campaign since 2015-16 (8).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Southampton's performance

What did you make of City's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

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Manchester City have got the FA Cup final to look forward to next weekend but they also have a top-five place to secure, so there is no danger they will not be fully focused on that on Saturday.

After winning their past four league games, City also have some real momentum for the first time in a long while. You have to go back to August and early September for the last time they managed a run like that.

So I can only see one outcome at St Mary's Stadium, and it is going to leave Southampton stuck on 11 points for at least another week. The only question here really is how many goals City score.

Sutton's prediction: 0-3

Read the full predictions and have your say here.

Five matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Fulham v Everton

• Ipswich Town v Brentford

• Southampton v Manchester City - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Wolves v Brighton

• Bournemouth v Aston Villa (17:30 BST) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Pep Guardiola does not tend to give much away in his news conferences and it is often difficult to tease a decent top line out of him.

However, shortly before he faced the media on Friday, breaking news flashed up on the television screens at Manchester City's training ground saying Xabi Alonso is set to leave Bayer Leverkusen.

Guardiola signed his fellow Spaniard for Bayern Munich in 2014 and the pair won two Bundesliga titles together.

Last year, former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder Alonso led Leverkusen to the double of a Bundesliga title - without losing a game - and the German Cup in his first full season as a senior club manager.

Guardiola was full of praise when asked to give his reaction to the news.

"Wow, his impact on Leverkusen has been unbelievable," he said. "I think all the managers who had the opportunity and the pleasure to have him as a player always realised that he would be a manager.

"Going to Germany and fighting with Bayern Munich is always so difficult. Last season they were unbeaten except for the last game against Atalanta in the Europa League final.

"The way they played, the way he improved the players - I think Leverkusen themselves have to be so proud of the partnership that they had for just three years."

With the race for Champions League football reaching the final few hurdles, we asked our fan contributors of five clubs involved to let us know if their team will make the top five and if not, what happens next.

Here is what Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany, external had to say...

Here is what the other four contenders' fans thought about the race for Champions League football...

Newcastle will make the top five because "we have the number one striker in world football"

Chelsea will make the top five because of "belief generated" by win over Liverpool

Nottingham Forest will make the top five because of a "more favourable" run-in

Aston Villa will make the top five because "we know exactly what we need to do"

On the latest episode of his BBC Sounds podcast, Kyle Walker talks about Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool's title, the race for the Champions League and dealing with injury at AC Milan.

Listen to the episode

Ben Collins
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Southampton (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On striker Erling Haaland's fitness: "He's ready, he's fit. If he'll start, we'll decide tomorrow."

• Guardiola said Rodri is "still not available" and added that Oscar Bobb and Nathan Ake "have started training with us, partial, but still are not available".

• On whether City's run of five straight wins is their best form all season: "At the beginning we did it but yeah, [the best] for a long time. We can do better."

• On the chance to finish second and win the FA Cup: "I'm not thinking about that, I'm sorry to tell you. It's just Southampton that's on my mind and all week I've been thinking about them. The rest of the analysis, we will do it at the end of the season. It starts at 0-0. It's a massive, important game for us, definitely. There's just three games left and we have respect for them."

• On Haaland saying the City players have lacked hunger this season: "If it's a feeling for Erling, the players should talk to each other and ask themselves why. We can do better. We're happy for the results we have but the situation is that we have to sustain it for many, many months. It's just been for three or four weeks."

• On Nico O'Reilly being substituted against Wolves after his seventh straight start: "He's played a lot of minutes. There are no punishments here. When the game is done, we analyse what we can do better but then it's completely forgotten. It's in the past. It's about what we can learn in the game for the next one, especially for the young players. The results we've had would be difficult to imagine without him."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to full commentary of Southampton v City from 15:00 BST on Saturday on BBC Radio 5 Live

Shamoon Hafez
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City travel to already relegated Southampton on Saturday knowing victory will edge them closer to sealing a top-five Premier League place.

But with four games to go, including an FA Cup final, will Erling Haaland be handed a start on the south coast to build up his match fitness?

Is Pep Guardiola planning changes with next week's trip to Wembley in mind?

We will find out the answers to those questions and more when the Spaniard faces the cameras this afternoon.

Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal have all made contact to sign Brazil winger Rodrygo, 24, from Real Madrid. (Tbrfootball), external

City also want to sign Rodrygo's 21-year-old compatriot Wesley, who plays for Flamengo. (Gianlucadimarzio - in Italian), external

Napoli are keen on acquiring 33-year-old Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne on a free transfer when his City contract expires this summer. (Times - subscription required), external

De Bruyne is keen to stay in Europe, and Aston Villa are understood to be among a host of clubs jostling for his signature. (i paper), external

Finally, Napoli are also monitoring Manchester City's 29-year-old England midfielder Jack Grealish. (Sun), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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We asked for your views on what are things that is going under the radar with Manchester City.

And most of your messages were about Kevin de Bruyne not being given an extension at the end of the season.

Here are some of your comments:

Ash: City should offer a one-year contract with option for another at reduced wages. He is too good to let go yet!

Justin: Kevin has been a key player throughout his tenure at City, with or without a natural striker. In his blood, there is only City's footballing system. If such a figure goes out at a time when you want to revive the squad, who is going to be aspirational for the new faces. If you really want to revive the squad, a one-season extension for Kevin is enough. We understand that age may catch up with him but it's not true for all players. Look at Cristiano Ronaldo, who is 40. He is still giving his best and helping his team. Moreover, De Bruyne is clearly showing that he can still step up when the team need him most.

Frank: An error made at a critical time. The younger ones look up to him and aspire to reach his level and you just hack him out of the team. It is wrong. City have offered to Ilkay Gundogan, who chose to go and test life outside of City, and have rejected the one that is loyal to the core and is contributing most to the team.

Robert: De Bruyne is an essential part of the present City setup. I would keep him in the squad. He may need to consider a pay cut, but he would support other players and advise those from the academy. He is intelligent, articulate and a great player with the respect of all around him. We must keep him for at least two years.

Beyond De Bruyne, some other submissions pointed out flaws in City's defence this season.

Anton: My biggest gripe is the number of goals the opposition has scored with their first shot on target this season.

Gary: It feels like no one is talking about how vulnerable we are, especially on the right side of defence. It's fairly obvious we can't rely on Matheus Nunes - he's just not that good defensively.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne has been directly involved in more Premier League goals against Southampton (14 – four goals, 10 assists) than against any other side.

Only Ryan Giggs (12 v Manchester City and 12 v Newcastle) and Cesc Fabregas (11 v Tottenham) have more assists against an opponent in the competition than De Bruyne's 10 against the Saints.

City have won their past four Premier League games, their joint-longest winning run of the season. They are looking to win back-to-back away league games for the first time since August.

Uncertainty around the final verdict of the 115 charges faced by Manchester City could extend into next season, but the club are still planning to spend big in the summer transfer window. (i paper), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport