Pep Guardiola has heaped praise on Leroy Sane after his impressive display in Manchester City’s 4-0 Premier League victory against West Ham following a tricky start to the season for the German winger.

After missing out on the World Cup, Sane was dropped from City’s squad at the start of the campaign and had to wait until the middle of September for his first Premier League start.

Against West Ham, he scored twice and provided an assist for Raheem Sterling in a dominant victory for the league leaders, and Guardiola has been impressed by his ability to turn things around.

“We never had doubts about Leroy, even when he did not play,” Guardiola said. “I don’t have one doubt about his quality. But he is young, sometimes it’s up and down. It’s normal.”

Premier League week 13 goals Show all 22 1 /22 Premier League week 13 goals Premier League week 13 goals Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton vs Cardiff City) Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Cardiff City - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - November 24, 2018 Everton's Gylfi Sigurdsson celebrates scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Ed Sykes EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details. ED SYKES Reuters Premier League week 13 goals Mohamed Salah (Watford vs Liverpool) WATFORD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 24: Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Watford FC and Liverpool FC at Vicarage Road on November 24, 2018 in Watford, United Kingdom. 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West Ham were by no means about to hand City their first defeat of the season, but there were moments where it looked like there were a few chinks in the champions’ armour. The home side hit the post after half-time and had good efforts from Marko Arnautovic and Michail Antonio saved, however, Guardiola believes that is to be expected after the international break.

“After an international break that is normal,” he said. “The guys have been training for 10 days in a different way, with a different rhythm, and then they come back and have one training session, then travel away, and West Ham have quality.

“But the four goals were fantastic and the result is incredible because after this international break we know Real Madrid lost away, Bayern Munich drew at home, [Manchester] United were not able to win at home.

“So we know it’s complicated and it’s so difficult after the international break. We have to be better but I know we will do it.”

Pep Guardiola is pleased his side won after the international break (AFP/Getty)

As for Manuel Pellegrini, he was surprisingly upbeat that his side remained true to his positive style of football despite suffering their joint-heaviest defeat of the season.

“The best thing we had as a team today was that we kept playing in the exact same way, trying to score goals and we create two clear chances in the second half,” said the former Manchester City manager.

“It is not easy when you are losing 3-0 against Manchester City. The two things I am happy with today was the personality to play and to continue playing in the same way from the first minute until the end. Losing 3-0, normally you give up and they didn’t, never.”

During his time at Manchester City, Pellegrini won the Premier League and two League Cups but refused to be drawn on whether his former employers stand a chance of retaining their champion status this season.

“It is difficult to have your feelings what will happen in six months. They have a very good team and are playing very well. They have a very good team and it is difficult to create chances, that is why they have so few goals conceded – which is also why I am happy because we created a lot of chances. But always will be a team involved in the competition, if they are going to win it or not it is hard to say.

Arthur Masuaku had an especially difficult game at left-back trying to contain Sterling and was at fault for the three goals City scored before he was hauled off at half-time for Aaron Cresswell, but Pellegrini insisted every player can have an unexpectedly bad day.

“I will analyse the game tomorrow, maybe when you as a manager decide your team it is because for different reasons you think that is the best starting XI, every player can have a bad day. I think we had too many problems in that side, I think that Cresswell...they are both playing the same amount of games. That was not a change because he was responsible for the goals because we also lose the marking in the middle of the goal. I think we had too many problems in that side.”