PEP IS NOT TAKING SAINTS FOR GRANTED

City boss respects promoted teams, recalls his team's struggle to beat Wolves last week

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is clear on what he has to do when his team welcome struggling Southampton to the Etihad for their English Premier League clash on Oct 26. Nothing less than a victory will be on his mind, as three points would mean they go top of the table for a day at least, before Arsenal host leaders Liverpool on Oct 27.

As it stands, City are second on 20 points, one behind the Reds and three ahead of the Gunners.

Southampton, by contrast, have only one point and are mired in 19th place, but Guardiola is taking nothing for granted.

"Always I have a lot of respect for the teams that were in the Championship (last season) and were promoted. The Championship never ends! It's even worse than the Premier League (in terms of the number of games)," he said.

"After Champions League games, I prefer to play teams who are better in the table because you focus more and not look at that (playing a weaker team). But it is what it is.

"They have the courage to play and are brave with the ball. Wolves were at the bottom and we struggled to win."