Ralph Hasenhuttl will have Southampton ready for ‘biggest’ challenge of Man City

Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl would pay to go watch Manchester City play – but will have his side ready for the “biggest” challenge of tackling Pep Guardiola’s side in the FA Cup quarter-finals.

While City may be facing a stern challenge from Liverpool in the Premier League title race, whatever starting XI Guardiola selects at St Mary’s on Sunday will be favourites to progress.

Hasenhuttl feels he has to prepare his squad to face the best City side possible and challenged everyone to emerge stronger from the experience.

“You take massive things out of his (Guardiola’s) games. When you can imagine about a challenge for a manager, this is the biggest one definitely,” the Austrian said.

“It is always a super-intense game and super-intense to manage – but it makes you better, the players, us (coaches), everybody.

“Hopefully we see a really good cup game and I am sure we will because it is two teams that want to play football, two teams that want to create chances, that are looking for an intense way of playing football.

“They are so fantastic to watch – if I was a football fan, I would go there for sure.”

Southampton’s progress in recent weeks has stalled on the back of three straight league defeats following on from a seven-match unbeaten run through all competitions.

Hasenhuttl knows things are not about to get any easier against City’s multi-talented squad.

“You simply expect that they are coming with the best possible team, because they have also one week’s time to prepare and have no game next week as they are going for the international break,” said Hasenhuttl, whose side drew both of their league games against City this season.

“I think it is easier to expect the (Man City) team as (being) the best possible and