**Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has defended his selection choices in a 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid in midweek ahead of Saturday’s trip to face West Ham.**
The Blues’ hopes of progressing to the UEFA Champions League quarter-final suffered a huge dent as **Federico Valverde**‘s first-half hat-trick left City and Guardiola with a mountain to climb in the return leg of the Round of 16 tie next week.
City remain in the hunt of a fifth Premier League title in six seasons as they look to cut down **Arsenal**‘s seven point lead at the top of the table, starting with a trip to face West Ham at the London Stadium on Saturday night.
Guardiola drew criticism for meddling with his starting XI at the Santiago Bernabeu in midweek, uncharacteristically deploying a midfield duo of **Bernardo Silva** and **Rodri** and moving Nico O’Reilly from midfield to left-back.
> [“The only adjustment was…” – Pep Guardiola defends Manchester City team selection in Real Madrid drubbing](https://cityxtra.co.uk/42941/the-only-adjustment-was-pep-guardiola-defends-manchester-city-team-selection-in-real-madrid-drubbing/)
In a press conference on Friday afternoon, Guardiola spoke at length about his lineup from Wednesday’s crushing loss in the Spanish capital and assessed his side’s chances of pulling off a miraculous comeback next week at the Etihad Stadium.
“We are used to, from many years, living these kind of situations. So, next one,” the 55-year-old said on how Manchester City can pick themselves back up and go again as they embark upon a season-defining run of fixtures in the next month.
“With (team) selections, always I think what is best for the team,” Guardiola added as he pointed out that his team selections draw praise when Manchester City win and invite criticism when they don’t work out.
**This is a developing story. More to follow.**