A breathless 90 minutes at the London Stadium ended goalless, meaning our clash with the Hammers went down to the lottery of a penalty shootout.
And it was the hosts who came out on top, with Said Benrahma stroking home the decisive spot-kick to see David Moyes’ side into the hat for the quarter-finals with a 5-3 shootout win.
It means our recent dominance of the Carabao Cup, which has seen us emerge as winners in each of the last four seasons, is over at the fourth round stage.
But while a defeat is always difficult to accept, Guardiola believes City can take huge pride from both our recent Carabao Cup record as well as our performance on the night.
“An incredible run has finished (but) we finished in a good way,” said the City boss.
“We played in a really good way, creating chances against a team who defended deep.
“On penalties they were better. Congratulations to West Ham.
“Next year we will be back.”
Coming away from the London Stadium with victory was always going to be a difficult prospect for City, with West Ham one of the Premier League’s most in-form teams.
After steering the Hammers into Europe, David Moyes’ men have continued to build on last season’s momentum and came into tonight’s tie having been beaten just once in their previous seven matches in all competitions.
Guardiola was quick to praise our opponents, and his counterpart, and insisted that their progress made City’s performance all the more creditable.
“Not just this season, the previous one (too),” the City boss said of West Ham’s recent progress.
“One of the toughest games we played at home when one side was better than us last season was West Ham.
“They’re doing well in the Premier League and the Europa League and now they are in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
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“(They are a) fantastic team, (and have a) fantastic manager. We knew it. We did our game. I didn’t see the stats, but I thought we did a good game.
“Sometimes it happens. Next season we will be back.”
