Phil Foden can do little more.
The teenage Manchester City prodigy got a rare start, and played a big hand in all three of Gabriel Jesus 's goals and then added one of his own as the Blues wrapped up their Champions League group campaign in style with a 3-1 win in Zagreb.
The Stockport youngster is a little shy off the field and should perhaps be more demanding with him – but added that he never lacks for personality on the field.
It tells you something that Foden stole the show from the Brazil No.9, who claimed a hat-trick.
His gymnastic balance and reflexes were leaving defenders trailing in his wake, or even clumsily smashing into each other as they tried to do him some damage.
It was great to watch, but more importantly, from Guardiola's assessment, he was taking the burden of making things happen in the final third – much more than the experienced Ilkay Gundogan, who was happy to play a linking, shadow role as his junior teammate twinkled and danced.
The game was academic to City, already qualified and already assured of the top spot in the group which ensures they face a second-placed team in the last 16.
But it meant everything to Dinamo, for whom a win, coupled with Shahtar Donetsk slipping up, would have meant qualification.
We were expecting a cauldron-like atmosphere in the bowl of the Stadion Maksimir – instead we got freezing temperatures and low-key chanting from the Dinamo fans.
The game was equally uninspiring, but it WAS important for City, stuck in a rut of just two wins in seven matches – their worst run since Pep Guardiola's first season in charge.
They needed a win to boost morale after that derby defeat at the weekend, and set them up for a tricky trip to Arsenal at the weekend.
It started badly, with full backs Joao Cancelo and Benjamin Mendy giving the ball away at will, and the Blues' usual slick passing game reduced to hoicked, aimless long balls and careless short ones.
And then, in their first attack of any seriousness, Dinamo took the lead.
Damian Kodzior arrowed a cross towards the near post, where Dinamo darling Dani Olmo stole between Eric Garcia and Nicolas Otamendi and brilliantly caught the ball on the volley to send it flashing past Claudio Bravo.
But the Blues rallied, and began to string their game together, with Foden taking more and more responsibility on his slender shoulders.
At the press conference the night before, one Croatian journalist had sniffed at the mention of Foden's name, and suggested he was not even close to Olmo – who is two years older.
But after the former Barcelona man had fired Dinamo ahead, Foden started to show his quality.
And when he darted forwards, ghosting past one challenge and then leaping as two defenders careered in from both sides, with nasty intent, he was away.
The two defenders collided, leaving one of them in a crumpled heap, but Foden worked the ball to his right and Riyad Mahrez crossed to the far post where Jesus headed home.
Dinamo were angry, suggesting that either City should have put the ball out to allow treatment to their stricken player, or that the referee should have intervened.
It was nonsense – both players tried to crunch the Stockport lad, and ended up clashing with each other. Justice was served.
His part in the goal clearly spurred Foden on, and he was suddenly everywhere, running at defenders, spraying long balls out to Mahrez's feathery touch and constantly seeking the ball.
The teenager was instrumental when City took he lead, five minutes into the second half.
It was a goal of beauty, giving the travelling fans hope that they had finally got their City back.
Mendy and Bernardo combined intricately down the left, then Jesus and Foden got involved, working their way into the penalty area in a blur of passing and movement.
Given a one-on-one with a defender, Jesus relished the possibilities, feinting to go to the by-line and then swerving back inside before curling a precision shot into the far corner.
Four minutes later, he had a hat-trick as the Blues, by now back in a familiar groove, again took the hosts apart.
Foden was again involved, slipping a neatly disguised pass for the overlapping Mendy. The left back has spent the last few weeks crashing crosses into the first defender, or ballooning them into the stands – and the first half in Zagreb had been no different.
But this time he found the perfect arc, whipping the ball away from the keeper and making it impossible for Jesus to miss.
City strolled through the rest of the game, taking off Jesus, Rodri and Otamendi to keep them fresh for Arsenal.
But they still managed a fourth goal as they carved Dinamo apart down the right, and Bernardo pulled the ball back for Foden to finish.