After falling behind to James Ward-Prowse’s header, the Belgium winger sparked a stunning comeback with a well-taken individual goal – his first for the Club.
The City boss said patience is still required following his summer move from Stade Rennais but was impressed by his performance against the previously unbeaten Hammers.
“When you buy a player like him for four or five years – I don’t know how many years we signed him for – we have to be patient,” Guardiola said.
“I will be honest, I didn’t expect him to play for Man City the way he did today! Against Fulham he was deeper and close to Kyle [Walker] so today he was higher.
“There are processes he has to learn and all the time we are there to help him but he has to say, ‘I have to be myself as a player’.”
Guardiola returned to the touchline after being away in the build-up to the last two games before the international break.
He was in constant contact with assistant coach Juanma Lillo and the City bench for the victories over Sheffield United and Fulham.
After meeting up with the new signings when they returned earlier this week, Guardiola said he encouraged the 21-year-old to display his quality and he showed no fear against a defensively-strong West Ham side.
“I was in Barcelona when Jeremy arrived and I had the feeling that maybe he was a little shy in his first game,” Guardiola added.
“He’d just joined us, had two or three days’ training with a team that had won the Treble and we spoke about this – I told him to use his quality as a winger - one on one or one v two, if you have the feeling, go.
“From the first minute he was incredible, aggressive with determination and arrived many times on the byline.
“I’m really pleased because we thought the quality was there, and he has started to prove it.”
