Southampton, bottom of the Premier League, whose relegation had already been confirmed, held Manchester City to a goalless draw at St. Mary’s Stadium. This result was significant for Southampton, as the single point took them to 12 points, ensuring they avoid the unwanted record of being the worst team in Premier League history. Derby County, relegated in the 2007-2008 season with 11 points, remains the league’s worst-performing team.

After the 0-0 draw, several Manchester City players and Pep Guardiola criticized Southampton for their defensive approach. However, interim manager Simon Rusk responded fiercely when asked about Ruben Dias’ comments, which condemned Southampton’s defensive tactics.

Simon Rusk, Southampton’s interim manager, fired back at Ruben Dias, saying: “What a player. Oh wow. Did he expect us to say, ‘Help yourself to a goal’? Are they angry? We didn’t mean to upset them. We just didn’t want to concede. In fact, his words are actually a compliment to us. If we had played toe-to-toe with City today, we would have lost. A draw means we were better than them. Let them not forget that our budget is one-fifth of theirs. Under these circumstances, we had to find a way to stop them, and there was nothing wrong with our style of play.”