"How many times do I say Pep is a genius?"
That was the fiery response from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola as he defended his team selection for the 3-0 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League ahead of facing West Ham on Saturday.
A Federico Valverde hat-trick put Los Blancos into a commanding position in their round-of-16 tie ahead of next week's second-leg trip to the Etihad.
Before that, City will turn their attention back to the Premier League as they take on relegation-threatened West Ham (8pm kick-off). Guardiola's side could go into the game 10 points behind league leaders Arsenal, should they beat Everton in their game which kicks off at 5.30pm.
While Guardiola made no bones about the fact that he will have to rotate his squad, he was quick to jump to the defence of his selection in the Spanish capital.
"I said to you after the press conference in Madrid, there are logical reasons for that [team selection]. The momentum of the players and many things," Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference.
"Listen, I played a final in the Champions League without Fernandinho as a holding midfielder against Chelsea. Do you think that's normal? No, honestly. I played (Ilkay) Gundogan at that moment.
"I was destroyed. They were right, but in that moment, I knew how he's playing and Fernandinho was playing.
"I can explain that to you, but is that going to convince you for the next time? If you win, you're a genius. How many times have I said 'Pep is a genius for the team selection?' I don't waste my time.
"My players are extraordinary, and they were extraordinary in many things. You can say whatever you want. I will convince you, when the selection is made. I want to rotate the team; we want to be good.
"After 10 years, I will not convince any one of you. Why? Because we lost. And that's all. I had to do my job the best I could, knowing that if we win, it's good. So, if we lose, it's bad."
Guardiola has doubled down on the fact that rotation within the starting line-up is needed to ensure City can compete across all competitions this season, while insisting he always wants "what is best for the team".
"We won or we lost in Madrid? [We lost, so] it's a bad selection," he added.
"We won or we lost in Newcastle? We won so the selection was good.
"I think all the time that we were taking decisions and in the Carabao Cup, FA Cup, I think a lot about what is the best for the team [with my selection].
"Of course, we cannot play the same XI every three days. That is not going to happen. The amount of Premier Leagues we've won in the last few years is not important in every single game.
"I have an opinion about the game in Madrid. Completely an opinion. Mistakes with my own decisions, own opinions. Not about what's happened, the results, or whatever. I have my opinion.
"In the first half especially, the first 20 minutes before the first goal, we were exceptional. I would say one of the best we have played there. In terms of, we come here to be a threat and we were threatening. But after that, the emotions come and we concede one goal immediately.
"Some mistakes we make. And after, the emotions are involved and it's a completely different game. But even in the second half, we started really well. We conceded a penalty that, I'm sorry, it was not.
"We have clear chances. We were there in that way.
"It's not the first time it's been hard. I've lost many times in the Champions League.
"I've been massacred about my decisions. I can argue why I decided on the team selection. I will not convince you, because we lost. Because this argument is before the game."
. Only Aston Villa managed to pick up a win of the nine Premier League clubs competing across the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.
The City boss believes this is an indication that the English top flight is not as dominant as it once was and that teams from other parts of Europe are just as prepared to compete at the highest level.
"Before I said we were the best league in the world. After what happened in midweek, we are not," he added.
"We are an incredible league. But in this competition, it's for one game, not two games. Everything can happen. And that means other leagues, they are good, too.
"So, now everybody doubts Bodo/Glimt, right? No one does. Top team. The competition is tough. Everyone is well prepared."
