Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that his side lost to a better team after Southampton beat Manchester City 2-0 in the EFL Cup quarter-final game played on Wednesday evening.

The game was one of the two fixtures played on Thursday and Wednesday as Nottingham Forest faced Wolves in the second game.

However, at the Saint Mary’s Stadium, Manchester City was shocked when the team at the bottom of the Premier League took the lead through 20-year-old French forward Sekou Mara in the 23rd minute.

Five minutes later, twenty-four-year-old Malian midfielder Moussa Djenepo doubled the lead from long range with an excellent lob.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola described the evening as a bad night for each team while congratulating Southampton for being a better team while also saying that his team did not deserve to win the game.

“The better team won. We didn’t play good; we didn’t play well in the beginning. There are many games you can start, not good, and overcome, and we didn’t do it. When you are not prepared to play this game, you arrive one inch late and don’t score a goal. When you are prepared, you score the goal.” Guardiola said.

Meanwhile, elsewhere Nottingham Forest needed penalties to defeat Wolverhampton wanderers at the City ground after playing a one-all draw.

Ivorian defender Wily Boly was 18 minutes into the first half before Raul Jimenez made the game level in the second half.

Although both teams lost their first penalty kicks, Nottingham Forest stood firm to win 4-3 on penalties and got Manchester United into the semi-final for their efforts.

The second semi-final will see Southampton face Newcastle United, who defeated Leicester City 2-0 on Tuesday to secure their place in the semi-finals.

Daniel Ademiju Idowu