Pep Guardiola addresses Man City's difficulties against Southampton this season ahead of FA Cup tie

Manchester City have twice been held to a draw by Sunday’s FA Cup opponents Southampton this season. But manager Pep Guardiola says there is no secret to the hold that the Saints seem to have over his side in the current campaign, as they shape up for the quarter-final tie.

Guardiola appears to have extra interest in Southampton and their players - he famously accosted Nathan Redmond after a match at the Etihad in 2017, and had an intense discussion with manager Ralph Hassenhutl after the two sides drew 1-1 at St Mary’s in January. That might be because the Saints are becoming quite a thorn in the side of the Blues, or simply because they are one of those Premier League clubs that consistently punches above its weight, both in terms of results and producing excellent young players.

Guardiola says their success on the field, not least against City this season, holds no mysteries: “Because they are good,” he said when asked why City find them so tough to play. “They are intense, the rhythm they play, the quality, manager, the players. Southampton is a team that shows from the outside the consistency. It doesn't matter who the manager is, the recruitment is fantastic.”

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And he said that the quality on show in the Premier League should be remembered when there is a knee-jerk reaction to results that do not entirely go City’s way, as happened after City’s 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace on Monday.

"When we won against United it was because 'United was a disaster' and when we drew against Crystal Palace 'We are a disaster'. And it's not the other thing - we were good in the other one and Crystal Palace defended really well.

“If Southampton take results