Referee Michael Salisbury's whistle to signal half time was the starting shot for Pep Guardiola, who drove away completely in the wrong direction.
Guardiola was on the pitch and looked for Kevin De Bruyne near the penalty area for something that clearly could not wait for the dressing room.
The pair hugged, with Guardiola slapping his captain on the waist as he gestured a gesture of thanks, having recognized the defensive effort De Bruyne had made moments earlier which hampered West Ham's chances of getting a goal back . He appreciates effort, Guardiola, but smart effort.
De Bruyne thwarted one move and then bought a free kick to slow the flow. That's what Jack Grealish has done for this City team in the past and yet again the winger sat on the bench looking at De Bruyne and nodding in approval.
That bit of De Bruyne's play is completely Grealish, but Grealish doesn't do it anymore. He sits on the sidelines. At the age of 29, his career – at City and beyond – is at a crossroads. Apart from De Bruyne's smart work, the emergence of Savinho in recent matches has brought that into sharper focus.
Savinho added two assists against West Ham to one at Leicester last weekend. That is one more than Grealish has managed since the start of last season in the Premier League, in which he played 1,578 minutes of football.
Grealish's game isn't all about numbers, but here's a stark comparison with a rival for the same position in City's frontline.
And Guardiola gave Grealish a kick in the backside after the match in what felt like cutting comments when asked if Savinho's form could be a catalyst for the England man to get back to his best.
“It's easy,” Guardiola began. 'No matter how hard he looks at himself, he will see the competition. He has to compete with himself. Savinho is in better shape and everything than Jack and that's why I played Savinho.
'I want the Jack who won the Treble. I want it. But that's why I try to be honest with myself. What happened to Savinho's delivery in the box? It is higher than the other wingers in that position.
'And they have to fight. You can say, “Okay, it's unfair.” If that's what you think, then it's okay. But you have to prove: “I'm going to fight with Savinho, to deserve to play in that position”. Every day, every week and every month.'
Every day. Fight against himself. There aren't even any lines to read here. With City aiming to add Frankfurt's Omar Marmoush to their squad this month, a player who can operate out wide and across the pitch
In the middle, the message couldn't be clearer for Grealish, someone so important to the club's biggest campaign.
Grealish spoke candidly last season about struggling with the comedown after the Treble, and there were vague references to training levels. That should have been a thing of the past for a long time and it was expected that he would come into action this time after the heartbreak of missing out on England's European Championship squad – especially after putting himself through rigorous off-season training.
He didn't do that. He has completed just one of his six league starts, and now it's time for him to step up. If not, others will pass him.
'I have no doubt whatsoever about the quality of Jack or any of these players. Otherwise they wouldn't be here,” Guardiola added. 'They have to be at their best at 3 p.m. It's not about what they have done or will do, it's about 3pm.
'I know he can do it, because I have seen him, I have seen his level and I want that, every training and every match. If not, Savinho… is there anyone in this room (who thinks) that Savinho doesn't deserve to play at the moment? No. He deserves it. That's why I play him, because he produces.'
Grealish performed reasonably well in the defeat at Aston Villa on December 21 before being described as 'not fully fit' for the Boxing Day draw with Everton.
Guardiola spoke of how 'almost all' City's players want to 'fight' to stop this mixed performance – and it was mixed, despite the scoreline – as he praised Nathan Aké for playing through the pain barrier for the third game in a row. Savinho seems to have gone one step further, steaming straight through an open door while others are missing.
“I'm still adapting, I don't speak English,” said the Brazilian. 'When I start speaking English, I feel comfortable in the group.'
His partnership with Erling Haaland, who has set both of the Norwegian's goals, is certainly something to exploit. “He understands me and I understand him,” Savinho added. 'I usually give the ball to him because I know he won't waste it and will score. When he's around, I always try to get the ball to him.'
More of that and City win more games – and Grealish will have to be happy to watch.
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