PEP BUZZING AS CITY SINK SAINTS AT DEATH
STERLING NOTCHES LAST-GASP WINNER AS LEADERS DENY BRAVE SOUTHAMPTON A POINT
Pep Guardiola could not control his emotions after Raheem Sterling’s stunning late winner continued Manchester City’s record run at Southampton’s expense.
Plucky Saints looked set to become the first side in 100 days to deny swashbuckling City maximum points in the Premier League after Oriol Romeu cancelled out Kevin De Bruyne’s deflected freekick.
But deep into stoppage time Sterling found space to bend home a stunning effort to secure a 2-1 victory – a club record 19th straight win in all competitions – and send the Etihad Stadium wild as Guardiola jumped for joy.
“Good night, yes,” a smiling Guardiola said, sporting a wet jumper from the dressing room celebrations. “I think all the supporters create some special moments.
“In the last breath, in the last second, we enjoyed the situation, so you have to celebrate it. It was a good moment in the last minute.
“What happened in the locker room with all the staff, all the people, how happy they were that’s why our job makes sense. To enjoy this kind of situations.”
The unbridled celebrations after Sterling’s winner included Benjamin Mendy hobbling down the touchline with his City team-mates – just two months after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
Guardiola joked the “crazy” full-back’s decision was a “disaster”, but he too struggled to control himself.
“I said I apologise, I couldn’t control it,” the City boss said after referee Paul Tierney had a word with him having encroached on the pitch. “I was so happy, like all the fans, all the players.
“I ran behind Raz (Sterling) but I am not quick enough or fast enough, but we were so, so happy. I could accept absolutely everything.”
Guardiola continued in animated fashion after the final whistle, when the City manager’s post-match conversation with Saints’ Nathan Redmond raised eyebrows.
“(I told him) how good a player he is,” he said of what had looked like a rather aggressive exchange. “Last season he destroyed us here. I didn’t know him last season, I realised how good he is.
“Today he could not attack because they defend all the time, but that is what it is.”
Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino was frustrated by the amount of stoppage time as five minutes were awarded and Sterling struck home in the 96th minute.
Pellegrino said: “I didn’t see too many actions to delay the game. Obviously just the change, but OK it is part of the decision of the referee.
“I can’t do anything about that, I have to respect (it).
“Obviously it is painful for us to concede at the end, but I think we have to learn how to approach this type of moment for the next time.”