Pep Guardiola: Man City manager regrets Nathan Redmond outburst

Guardiola later said he was telling Redmond "how good a player he is"

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he regrets his animated post-match discussion with Southampton's Nathan Redmond after Wednesday's 2-1 win.

Guardiola, who walked onto the pitch and remonstrated with the Saints winger, has been asked to explain his actions by the Football Association.

Redmond has since said the Spaniard was "only very complimentary and positive".

On Friday, Guardiola said: "I cannot control myself. I have to do that, hopefully I can improve."

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss has been given until Monday to respond to the FA.

"What Redmond said in his statement, I admire him as a player and thank him for his comments," he added.

"If the FA want my statement again, I am able to explain whatever they want. If they don't believe me, I don't know what I am doing here."

'He was only complimentary to me'

Guardiola approached Redmond moments after Raheem Sterling had scored a 96th-minute winner for the league leaders at Etihad Stadium.

He began to shout and wave his arms, while Redmond covered his mouth and appeared to reply.

"He was very passionate, intense and aggressive - but he was only very complimentary and positive to me," the 23-year-old later said on social media.

"He commented on my qualities as a young English player and how he wanted me to attack his team more during the game in a similar way to last season.

"I told him I was doing what my manager had asked me to do in the game. That's it."

Guardiola said he would "never judge the way opponents play against one of my teams".

"It's so complicated when teams defend with 10 players," he added. "I said to Nathan: 'You are a good player and you have to attack.'"

City host West Ham at 16:00 GMT on Sunday, while Southampton travel to south-coast rivals Bournemouth at 13:30 on the same day.