With a Champions League semi-final second leg on Wednesday, a 4-2 defeat on the domestic stage was not the best preparation for facing a team like Real Madrid.
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City travel to Spain for the second leg of their semi-final against Madrid on Wednesday and Pellegrini indicated his unhappiness at the scheduling of the Southampton game for a late kick-off on Sunday, instead of Saturday.
Kelechi Iheanacho scored City’s two goals, but his efforts went in vain as the Citizens were unable to overtake Arsenal in third place on the Premier League standings. I was very disappointed especially in the defending because we were doing well in the other games.
Even with Sadio Mane plundering a hat-trick against a somnolent City defence, the rave reviews came pouring in for Iheanacho, with Sky pundit Graeme Souness effusive in his praise for this “19-year-old boy, the one player who wanted the ball, who put his foot in”. We’ll analyse after the game [if anyone earned the right to play Wednesday]. “It is not a big blow, because we have played now and we need to focus on the next game against Madrid”, Iheanacho said.
Pellegrini made no attempt to disguise his disappointment at his side’s defensive display as Sadio Mane’s hat-trick following an opening goal from Shane Long secured Southampton’s victory.
Kelechi Iheanacho was one of the few bright spots for Manchester City on Sunday.
The win over City lifted Southampton above Liverpool to seventh in the Premier League, keeping Koeman’s hopes of his team qualifying for the Europa League alive.
“This game didn’t give us enough encouragement”.
His brace takes his tally for the season to 13, a number made even more astonishing when one considers it is from 17 shots on target in total. “They sold a lot of players this season and it’s a merit to Ronald Koeman that they are doing so well”.
Iheanacho was undoubtedly City’s brightest player and he brought another low save from Forster early in the second half after combining well with strike partner Wilfried Bony on the edge of the area. They put on such a disciplined performance against reigning German champions Bayern Munich, and Saul Niguez’s goal was worth of sending a team through to the final. “I think we’ve played fantastic football”.
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Manuel Pellegrini says he had to take Manchester City’s match against Real Madrid into account ahead of their loss to Southampton.
