Man City boss Guardiola: We played really well but they punished us.

Pep Guardiola says City loss to Southampton describes their season. [Getty]

Pep Guardiola said Manchester City's 1-0 defeat at Southampton on Sunday “was a little bit our season”.

One of the reasons why the Citizens couldn’t defend the Premier League title this season was due to their inconsistency on the road.

They thrashed the current champions Liverpool 4-0 at the Etihad last week but failed to do the same when they visited the St. Mary’s Stadium over the weekend as a stunning 40-yard strike from Che Adams handed three points to the hosts.

Following City's third consecutive away league defeat, leaving them 23 points behind Liverpool, manager Guardiola bemoaned the result but was pleased with their positive display.

"It was a little bit our season," the Spanish boss said as Goal reported. "We played really well but allowed mistakes in our box and they punished us a lot.

"Afterwards, we created a lot and we could not score. It was a little bit today resuming what happened this season in the Premier League.

"We must improve, but in terms of performance, in terms of the way we played, there's nothing to say. We attacked incredibly well and had 10 guys in the box.

"They scored a goal and they had one chance at the end, but no more than this. We played really, really well."

More: Man City star Bernardo Silva says they must improve away form.

Guardiola added: "This season, in the Premier League, we've lost a lot of games - but not for a lack of [good] games.

"In general, I think we've played really well in most of the games. But when you have 20 shots and 10 players in the box, you have to score goals.

"When one team has a lot of chances and they beat us and we don't create enough chances, it can happen. But it happened very few times in all competitions.

"We create a lot, but we struggle. In a few they do, they score a goal. We do a lot and we cannot score.

"Maybe it's going to help us, this situation, to arrive in key moments a little bit better," he said. "But we have to get better.

"The first goal in Chelsea [a 2-1 defeat] was our present to them. In a lot of games, always we give them a chance. When an opponent does a good thing and scores a good goal, it's okay. But that didn't happen."

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