Pep Guardiola singles out one Southampton ace who plays like a Man City player, hails Martin’s ‘courage’

Pep Guardiola sees shades of Manchester City in the way Russell Martin utilises one of the pillars of Southampton’s bold tactical set-up.

And, perhaps unsurprisingly, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has a lot of admiration for a man who’s position has come under scrutiny following just one point from a possible 24 at the start of the new Premier League campaign.

To say Southampton’s top-flight return has been a disappointment, thus far, would be an understatement.

But Pep Guardiola believes that better days are just around the corner for Russell Martin and co, impressed by his opposite number’s steadfast refusal to deviate from those pretty passing ideals.

The Saints chief follows buys into many of the same ultra-purist principles that have underpinned Guardiola’s remarkable success in the dugout.

For instance, Martin’s use of the goalkeeper as the first line of attack as well as the last line of defence is one Guardiola can appreciate. The Spaniard, after all, helped popularise the rise of the ball-playing glovesman, from Victor Valdes through to Manuel Neuer and Ederson.

Pep Guardiola likes Aaron Ramsdale’s role at Southampton

Southampton shifted their focus to Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsdale after a deal for Feyenoord stopper Justin Bijlow fell through in August.

Ramsdale was chosen, not just because of his experience and his character, but because he possesses the passing range required of a number one in a Russell Martin team.

“[Martin] will have success,” Guardiola told a press conference ahead of Southampton’s daunting trip to the Etihad on Saturday afternoon. “When [you stick to your principles], you always have success.

“If you start to change the thoughts, the players will notice and know you’re not a big believer. Sooner or later the results are coming.

“They have good moments and the courage to play. I use the keeper like [how Southampton] uses the keeper, Ramsdale, right now.”

Guardiola points out that, while Southampton are likely to have suffered eight defeats from nine once the full time whistle blows at 5pm on Saturday, last season’s play-off champions have been unfortunate on more than one occasion this term.

Southampton dominated in the first half hour against a Man United side who needed an Andre Onana penalty to keep the scores level. Sam Morsy fired in a deflected 98th minute winner against Ipswich Town.

Southampton were also 2-0 up and cruising last time out against Leicester City before collapsing in the second-half.

Russell Martin backed to turn around Southampton fortunes

“Always, teams have bad results,” Guardiola said after Man City needed a controversial, stoppage time John Stones winner to see of basement club Wolves on Sunday. “But look what happens, we struggled to win [at Molineux].

“Against Brentford, Manchester United, for the first half hour Leicester, [Southampton] started really good.”

TBR understands that, while there are concerns, Southampton are not yet ready to call time on Russell Martin’s St Mary’s tenure. The board believes that there enough positives to be taken out of that Leicester reverse.

An opinion Martin shares.

“I saw loads of good stuff from them in the game,” he says in his own presser. “I don’t think we have ever had a problem with how [the players] work. I think they have been very frustrated.

“The level of competition [in training] has been very good this week.”