PEP GUARDIOLA insists that signing a new striker over the summer would not have helped Manchester City beat Southampton.
The champions were held by the Saints to a goalless draw at the Etihad on Saturday and registered just one shot on goal.
The Cityzens were linked with moves for Harry Kane, Erling Haaland and were pipped by rivals Man United to Cristiano Ronaldo as they looked to replace Sergio Aguero during pre-season.
However, they failed to bring in a new boy and it was left to Raheem Sterling to play up top at the weekend.
But Guardiola is adamant that the lack of a new No9 was not to blame for the stalemate against the well-disciplined Southampton team.
He said: “Today we didn’t win not because we didn’t have a centre-forward, we didn’t win because our process to make the buildup or give better balls for players up front were not good.
“When they are good, they can run, arrive in other positions.
“We had just one shot on target but they had four or five blocks in the six-yard box so they were there.
“But that is not the reason. The reason is because we didn’t do our process for our back four and Fernandinho.
“The five guys who have to bring the ball to the other players were not good today.”
City will be hoping to rediscover their shooting boots when they face Wycombe at home in the Carabao Cup tomorrow before travelling to Chelsea on Saturday.
⚽ Read our Football news live blog for the very latest rumours, gossip and done deals