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Manchester City have 'short-changed' supporters this season, says Graeme Souness

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Graeme Souness says Man City have let down their supporters this season and the players deserve extreme criticism for their performance at Southampton

Manchester City lacked urgency and desire at Southampton and they have 'short-changed' their supporters with a season of abject performances, according to Graeme Souness.

Manuel Pellegrini's men were comprehensively beaten at St Mary's as Sadio Mane's hat-trick inspired the Saints to a 4-2 victory on Super Sunday.

Kelechi Iheanacho's stunning two-goal cameo was the only positive note for the travelling City supporters, who Souness sympathised with.

And the Sky Sports pundit believes the display on the south coast was a microcosm of City's season, a season where the best-equipped team in the league have fallen way short of the pace.

"Those players deserve extreme criticism for the thousands of fans who travelled from Manchester to watch that performance, where players were putting in 75 percent effort," Souness said.

"For players to pick and choose when to give 100 percent is not acceptable, and that 90 minutes typifies City's season. They have not been at it enough times this year.

Sadio Mane of Southampton celebrates
Image: Sadio Mane's hat-trick guided Southampton to an assured victory

"There was no urgency, no desire and for Southampton to win as easily as they did - having 40 percent possession - tells you something is not right.

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"They just didn't do anything right. They played like it was a five-a-side game that didn't really matter and that's alarming. That is why City haven't won the league this year.

"The one outstanding player they had, the one who continually wanted the ball, the one who ran forward with the ball and sometimes put his foot in, was a 19-year-old boy.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MAY 01:  Kelechi Iheanacho of Manchester City celebrates as he scores his and his team's second goal during the Barclays Premier Lea
Image: Kelechi Iheanacho's stunning individual performance was the only positive for City

"At any level, that game was wrong and Man City, no matter what happens between now and the end of the season, have not had a good season.

"They may end up winning the Champions League but they've short-changed their supporters far too many times this year.

"They've got the best group of players but they've not been consistent and, for whatever reason, they've failed to turn up too many times and have been disappointing to their supporters."

They've got the best group of players but they've not been consistent... they've failed to turn up too many times and have been disappointing to their supporters.
Graeme Souness on Manchester City

City undoubtedly had one eye on Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg at Real Madrid, as Pellegrini made eight changes ahead of kick-off.

And the team selection came back to haunt the Chilean as the defeat saw City miss the chance to pull clear of Manchester United in the race for Champions League qualification, with the Blues now just four points clear of their rivals in fifth, having played a game more.

And Souness voiced his concern at City's chances to seal qualification for incoming boss Pep Guardiola.

Manuel Pellegrini
Image: Manuel Pellegrini's wholesale changes cost City at St Mary's

"City were obviously off the pace because of the big game in midweek, but a lot of those players won't be involved in that and you can see why," he added.

"They have the best group of players but too many times, they've not shown the correct attitude or the desire has not been there.

"They've left the door open to Manchester United and, with games against Arsenal and Swansea, they are not certainties to qualify for the Champions League next year, which is massive with Pep Guardiola waiting in the wings.

"That was a poor performance today by City, in every shape and every form."

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