Sterling’s double – his first goals of the campaign – led City to a 3-1 win on Sunday as they made it three victories from as many Premier League games.
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City now is ahead of United and Chelsea on goal difference – and Guardiola said there is plenty more to come.
Then West Ham got back into it. Masuaku’s 58th minute cross caused chaos as Caballero was stranded, Gael Clichy grounded and Antonio rose to head home his eighth headed goal since joining West Ham past year.
Guardiola’s men continued to dominate at the Etihad Stadium, although Michail Antonio’s second headed goal in as many top-flight games threatened to tear up the script in the second half.
At half time, City should have been out of sight but they were sloppy, clumsy in defence and West Ham showed real determination to put up a gutsy second half fight back. “Unfortunately we could not qualify for the Europa League, but I am hoping I can help the club do that next season”. Credit to the boys, they had a cracking build-up on the left-hand side and it was my chance to get in there and get into a good position – luckily I did.
However they did ease up in the second half to allow West Ham back into the game.
“When you see how many chances we create, they scored with their first chance”, Guardiola told Sky Sports.
“We have to bring some players in.we need new blood”, he said.
After the game, he said: “We can play better, no doubt about that”.
“I did nothing. I try to do the best for all the players”, Guardiola said.
The Football Association will await Marriner’s report before deciding whether to take action against Aguero but Hammers boss Slaven Bilic played down the matter.
City had the ball in the net early in the second half following another vicious De Bruyne free-kick but Nolito, who got the final touch, was one of two players offside.
A 57th minute left-wing cross from Arthur Masuaka, who had been flirting with a red card after an early yellow, picked out his team-mate at the far post and, with Caballero unable to gather the ball, Antonio out-jumped Nicolas Otamendi and Gael Clichy to head in.
David Silva struck the post, Sterling missed a one-on-one and Samir Nasri had a shot cleared off the line before Raheem finally ended the Hammers’ resistance once and for all in stoppage-time.
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“The latest arrival takes the club’s spending to more than 60 million pound ($78.8 million) this summer, with Zaza becoming West Ham’s eleventh signing of a busy transfer window”, West Ham added.
