Semenyo’s winner silenced a raucous and rowdy crowd with a real poacher’s finish, reacting quickest to latch on to Rayan Ait-Nouri’s cross and converting with aplomb.
“We made a lot of passes that we needed to do to survive without much intention to attack,” said Guardiola.
“The reaction was amazing – unbelievable with the goal we scored. A complete game in a tough, tough place, and 10 games left in the Premier League. Time to be decisive.
“Now we are building these players and they have a long, long time here. It is important for the future for the club.”
Semenyo is taking the goalscoring burden off Haaland’s shoulders – only his team-mate with 29 and Brentford’s Igor Thiago (19) have been involved in more Premier League goals than Semenyo’s 18.
Since signing for City, Semenyo has scored four league goals and provided one assist, a goal contributions record which is bettered only by Chelsea pair Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro, who have six apiece.
In late November Haaland had scored 58% of City’s goals, taken 30% of their shots and had 57% of their expected goals (xG).
He had scored 19 goals in all competitions. Burnley’s Maxime Esteve was City’s second highest scorer in the league thanks to his two own goals in the game at Etihad Stadium.
Now, while Haaland’s impressive haul of 29 goals for the campaign still leads the way, Semenyo – and others – are silencing those who feared City were too reliant on the Norwegian’s goals.
