New Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino has described Newcastle United counterpart Rafael Benitez as "the best coach" he has ever worked with.

The 45-year-old, who took over at St Mary's in June, previously worked under Benitez during his tenures at Liverpool and Inter Milan.

During his playing career, Pellegrino also won two La Liga titles at Valencia with Benitez in charge, and the Argentine described the experiences as being "like a Masters".

"Rafa was one of the people who changed a little bit the way that the managers teach the player," Pellegrino told The Telegraph.

"When I was a player we were always told: 'You have to do this, you have to do that, you have to tackle, to defend.'

"But Rafa was different. Rafa asked the players how they felt and he completely changed the mentality. At a pedagogic level Rafa was the best coach in my life.

"In terms of being a professional also, it was really nice to work with him as a player and then his assistant for three years at Liverpool and Inter Milan. For me it was like a Masters."

Pellegrino will come up against Benitez for the first time when Southampton host Newcastle on October 14.