Ruben Dias Slammed After Shock Southampton Draw as Maya Jama Gets Unfair Blame

Frustrated Manchester City defender faces fan backlash following goalless stalemate at St. Mary’s

Manchester City’s goalless draw against already-relegated Southampton at St. Mary’s was frustrating enough on its own. But in the hours that followed, the spotlight shifted from the pitch to the post-match comments of centre-back Ruben Dias—and, bizarrely, to his girlfriend Maya Jama.

The Premier League champions-in-waiting stumbled to a 0-0 draw on the south coast on Saturday evening, in a match that saw Pep Guardiola’s side huff and puff but fail to blow the Saints’ house down. Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, and Phil Foden all featured, but City’s attacking spark was curiously absent. Southampton, destined for the Championship next season, held firm, withstanding a late onslaught to take a rare and morale-boosting point in their final home game.

It was a result that halted City’s momentum and denied them the chance to leapfrog Arsenal into second place, adding even more significance to what many saw as a routine fixture. But it was what happened after the final whistle that stole the headlines.

Dias Lashes Out at Southampton’s Time-Wasting

Dias Lashes Out at Southampton Time-Wasting

Speaking to media post-match, Dias didn’t hold back in his criticism of Southampton’s approach. The Portuguese defender accused the hosts of time-wasting from the early stages, questioning the spirit of the game and branding the tactics “embarrassing” in what many perceived as a bitter outburst.

“They were wasting time from the first minute,” Dias said. “We came to play football. They came to kill the game. It’s frustrating when teams show no ambition.”

The comments didn’t sit well with fans—City’s or otherwise. Given that Southampton had already been relegated, few were surprised by their pragmatic approach. For many neutrals, Dias’ inability to acknowledge his own team’s shortcomings rang hollow.

“Pathetic” and “Embarrassment of a Player”: Fans Hit Back

The backlash on social media was swift. One City fan, posting under the handle @TALLYYYYYYYYYY_, didn’t hold back:

“Pathetic from Ruben Dias this, as much as I love him. We were shit today, end of. They only needed a point, so of course they were gonna waste time. Maya Jama needs to go, she’s ruined my CB.”

That final line struck a nerve—not just with fans of Dias, but with those quick to call out the unnecessary drag of TV presenter Maya Jama into the football discourse. Jama, who has been dating Dias since late last year, became an odd scapegoat in the aftermath, as some online fans reached for conspiracy over performance.

Southampton fans, meanwhile, were revelling in the chaos. @SaintsWarfield wrote:

“Superb resilience today. The passion we wanted all season. To a man they put in a shift! Up the Saints! P.S. Ruben Dias I know you have bagged Maya Jama but… your team couldn’t bag today to save their lives. Cry more.”

Others piled on with similar jabs:

• @RicoLewis_ERA: “This guy cries too much. He’s not captain material.”

• @AirVenom10: “Worst side in PL history and man’s talking like this. Embarrassment of a player.”

• @lon_nol101: “Nah man Ruben don’t be Klopp. Stop with these silly excuses. That’s not us…”

Even Southampton’s official X (formerly Twitter) account got in on the fun, posting a cheeky response to Dias’ accusations:

“A point without even trying to play.”

Maya Jama Gets Unfairly Dragged Into the Drama

While footballers being criticised for poor performances isn’t anything new, what raised eyebrows in this saga was the speed at which Maya Jama became a focal point. The TV star, who had nothing to do with the match, found herself trending as fans connected the dots between Dias’ form and his off-field life.

It’s a recurring pattern in the game—WAGs and partners often get fingered for dips in form, despite having no tangible connection to what unfolds on the pitch. Jama herself has not responded publicly to the noise, but many online were quick to defend her against the tired trope.

“She’s not on the pitch. Blaming Maya Jama for Ruben Dias’ form is just lazy,” one fan tweeted. Another added: “Every time a player has a bad game they blame the girlfriend. When will it end?”

Guardiola Faces New Questions Ahead of FA Cup Final

For Pep Guardiola, the focus will now be on regrouping quickly. Manchester City face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final next weekend at Wembley, a match that now takes on added importance as City look to salvage silverware from an inconsistent domestic campaign.

Saturday’s draw means the Premier League title is effectively out of reach unless Arsenal and Liverpool stumble in the final weeks. While City still have the Champions League to play for, cracks are starting to show—especially in games where the opposition digs in and dares City to break them down.

Guardiola refused to blame his players publicly after the match, but sources close to the club suggest the Catalan was furious in the dressing room. The lack of urgency, cohesion, and cutting edge has become a concerning theme in recent away fixtures.

Final Thoughts: Dias Should Know Better

At his best, Ruben Dias is a leader. He brings a steely presence, clear communication, and no-nonsense defending to a City side that’s often fluid to a fault. But Saturday’s outburst felt off-brand. Rather than take the draw on the chin and move forward, the Portuguese international invited ridicule and took the spotlight off what should have been a creditable Southampton performance.

As for Maya Jama, the criticism levelled at her was unwarranted and absurd—a classic case of blaming the wrong person when things go wrong. Football fans are passionate, but sometimes that passion spills into places it doesn’t belong.

City will have their shot at redemption at Wembley. For Dias, the best way to silence the trolls and turn the conversation around is the oldest trick in the book: let your football do the talking.