MANCHESTER City boss Pep Guardiola heaped praise on Russell Martin's side before insisting he will learn from the Saints boss.

Saints suffered a 1-0 defeat at Man City thanks to Earling Haaland's early goal and were denied an equaliser by the crossbar on the stroke of half-time.

Guardiola explained that Southampton's gameplan and philosophy made it difficult for his players to win the ball back.

Asked if he will learn from Martin, despite the retired defender being less experienced as a coach, Guardiola insisted: "Absolutely.

"I'm a big believer in the process of build-up. I prefer my players get the ball to the feet, not to the teeth.

"When this happens, it's because they make an incredible process. We were not sloppy, we were not slack, and we were struggling to win the ball because they were really, really good.

"First of all, I'm a spectator, I want to see the opponent doing the things that I like to do with my team, and they're doing really well, and we struggled.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola heaped praise on Southampton and Russell Martin (Image: Martin Rickett/PA) "I just make a compliment, and I'm pretty sure I will learn. Some movement they have done, the reason why they do it, it's not difficult.

"They make a movement, create a space to lead to the striker, and they put the forward players on the outside, to bring you there, and it's not easy.

"The last two games against Wolves and Southampton proved that right now at the bottom of the league, look how difficult it was.

"I think when people say, in the Premier League, every team can beat everyone, yeah, that is the truth.

"I don't have any complaints about my team, because when the opponent is good, you have to accept it."

He continued: "The people judge results, not judge intentions or what they want to do. The same guys were giving him (Martin) incredible compliments because he was promoted from the Championship.

"He's the same guy with the same principles. He's young and I'm pretty sure he will improve. As a spectator, I like what they do.

"We ran incredibly today. We don't like that. But it's not because we were bad, it was because they were good."