Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted Pep Guardiola's key words of wisdom are helping him become the best possible manager he can be.
Hasenhuttl's side were thoroughly impressive in their midweek 4-1 victory over Brentford, with the Austrian insisting the beautiful game is ever-changing.
The Saints are now unbeaten in their last five outings and face City in the Premier League on January 22.
With the Southampton boss lauding praise Guardiola's way, he insists he is now becoming a more versatile and adaptable head coach.
''Football is always changing, always developing and when you stand on the same spot all the time you cannot be one-dimensional,'' began the 54-year-old.
''You will have no chance to do this job in the toughest league in the world against the toughest teams.
"Pep said one time every other manager makes him better and I can say this is absolutely true.
“Every fight you take, every match you play makes you better as a manager, you learn and you get better. This is what players have to do and what the manager has to do also.”
With the Blues currently top of the Premier League table after 21 games, Hasenhuttl will hope to avoid defeat again later this month, following his side's 0-0 draw with City back in September.
Guardiola's men have since gone through the gears over the recent Christmas and New Year period, and now sit 10 points clear of second place Chelsea in the table.
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