PEP Guardiola praised Cherries for their “well structured” approach to their 4-0 defeat at Manchester City, saying that they made life very difficult for star Erling Haaland.

Many expected City’s latest big name signing Haaland to add to the two goals he scored to start the season with away at West Ham United, but Cherries managed to keep the Norwegian quiet.

However, City have many stars at their disposal, finding goals via Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, before finding a fourth with a Jefferson Lerma own goal.

After the game Guardiola claimed: “The team did a really good performance against a team that is well structured defensively and offensively as well with good patterns.

“They defend so deep, so narrow, you have to go outside. We started really well with three or four corners after just six or seven minutes, lots of chances.

“It was a warm day. It was not easy for so many reasons but we make a really, really good performance.”

The Catalan then offered a defence for his striker’s blank, sharing: “He plays the most difficult job in the world.

“When you are a striker and in the defensive areas, teams like Bournemouth have three central defenders and two players in front and you are in the middle, how can you survive in that?

“It’s so difficult. We know it. We’ll find many situations.

“It’s just a question of time. The right moments, the right movements, and with the quality of the players we have behind him to assist him we’ll find him. I don’t have any doubts about that.

“We have seen it in the past with other teams. We have to be patient.”