Claude Puel helped motivate his side for their brilliant 1-1 draw at Manchester City by reminding them of their recent disappointments against high profile opposition.

Puel has seen his side put in excellent displays away to Manchester United, Arsenal and Inter Milan already this season, but on every occasion they have walked away empty handed.

The Saints boss told his team not to have the same regrets at the Etihad Stadium and it worked, as they held out for a fantastic point against Pep Guardiola’s Premier League table toppers.

“All is normal with the system and the philosophy and now they know what our identity of game is and it’s not a problem,” said Puel of his team.

“I said to them before the game we play against Manchester United, Arsenal and Inter Milan and every time we finish this game with a disappointment, because every time we had many chances, more than the opponent, and come back with a big frustration.

“It was important for this game to see our possibilities to have the confidence to play a good game and to come back with a good result.

“I think this point is important for the confidence and for the work of my players.”

Saints took the lead through Nathan Redmond and were put on the back foot in the second half when Kelechi Iheanacho equalised.

City poured forward and put Saints under immense pressure at times, but the team remained calm and collected, as well as hugely determined with their organisation helping shut out their illustrious opponents.

In the end they were good value for their point, and it was a result that Puel felt his team fully deserved, even if he was analysing things that could have gone better.

“I am happy of course for the point, but also with the spirit and the fantastic mentality of my players because it was a difficult game against this good team,” reflected the Saints manager.

“I think in the first half you score a good goal for us but it was important to keep a little more the ball and to play a little more on the ground.

“It was difficult against this team because they can make good pressing on our midfield and it was difficult to play our game.

“In the second time we keep a good defensive organisation to keep this result.

“We can do better sometimes in good transition with ball recovery and we can perhaps score another goal but I think it’s a good draw and a result normal with Manchester.”