“We could be better,” Guardiola said. “We could be more aggressive in the first half – better control maybe. In the end we need creativity: the cross, the shot, the dribble and we are struggling a bit this season. Something changed, Savinho’s [missed] chance [against Real Madrid], Marc this time.

“But it’s not easy: defences in a low block, the transitions teams have. Madrid are more dangerous than West Ham on transition. On set-pieces, Nuno is a master. What can I say to the team? They did everything. They had 21 shots. We have to be better in the final third – that’s all. It has happened many times this season.”

The City goal that had briefly given them the lead in the 31st minute was a miscued cross from Bernardo Silva and for all the star quality later unleashed on West Ham there was not much more. Haaland missed a couple of chances, including a ball pushed through the West Ham back line by the substitute Rayan Cherki, who was the game’s silkiest performer.