“We changed to make the players more dynamic, with Rayan, Jeremy [Doku] and Phil [Foden],” Guardiola instructed his post-match information convention. “But we couldn’t win the sport.
“We may very well be extra aggressive within the first half possibly, however with the creativity, the crosses and dribbles this season, we’re struggling. The team, they did all the things, however they want to be higher within the ultimate third, and it has occurred in lots of video games this season.”
Asked about picking Semenyo over Cherki as number 10, he said: “Absolutely, for that function there’s no-one higher than [Cherki]. That is unhealthy choice, you possibly can criticise me, I deserve it.
“Sometimes for the balance, we are learning. We played Cherki and Haaland – incredible, but we do not have the stability teams in the Premier League must have. I try to handle that, and the team is still growing.
“Rayan’s influence off the bench is unbelievable, however typically he doesn’t have the tempo so we play Semenyo. I’m nonetheless discovering the easiest way to have stability and to steadiness the team.”
Haaland’s type is thrown into sharp focus by the very fact he struggled in opposition to West Ham, a team in opposition to whom he has scored 11 Premier League targets – greater than another aspect.
“It’s not in regards to the lack of targets,” Guardiola said of the Norway striker. “We want to create extra. He might be again.”
City cannot win well, and they struggle to win ugly too.
They have only lost once in their past 18 league matches, but during that period they have given up 10 points from winning positions – enough to cost them first place in the current standings.
In video games the place they have been successful, they’ve drawn with Chelsea, Brighton, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and now West Ham.
Given the latter got here a few hours after Arsenal, starring Max Dowman, spectacularly dug out victory over Everton, this one will sting.
Guardiola laughed it off afterwards, saying he had been having a beer pre-match relatively than following the Arsenal match along with his team, as he served a touchline ban.
He also joked he would look to get more yellow cards as he preferred the view from the stands – and light-heartedly batted away a question on whether Haaland was limping.
It felt like if Guardiola did not chortle, he would cry.
