Manchester City’s Argentinian striker Sergio Aguero / AFP
PHOTO / Oli SCARFF /
Pep Guardiola insists his relationship with
Sergio Aguero remains strong despite mounting
speculation over the Manchester City striker’s
future since the arrival of Gabriel Jesus.
Teenage sensation Jesus took Aguero’s place in
Guardiola’s starting line-up before breaking a
bone in his foot, an injury that may rule the
Brazilian out for the remainder of the season.
That forced Guardiola to recall Aguero for an
FA Cup fifth round draw at second tier
Huddersfield on Sunday.
But it was an uninspired performance by
Aguero in the goalless draw and the rapport
between forward and manager looked strained.
With just two goals to his name since the end
of November, recent events have fuelled the
speculation that Aguero, 28, could end his six-
year stay with City once the current campaign
is over.
But, as Guardiola prepared for the first game of
a two-legged tie with Monaco in the Champions
League last 16 on Tuesday, the City boss
insisted he is handling Aguero no differently to
at any time in the past.
“Sergio has enough experience. He knows,
everyone knows,” Guardiola told reporters on
Monday.
“We are going to talk with him like with all of
his team-mates to convince him in these two
games, 180 minutes, that we are not going to be
able to do our best performance because in this
level it is so demanding in the Champions
League.
“It is one of the most beautiful competitions to
play, maybe not the most important, but the
most beautiful and we have to do our best.
“But the guys who score goals, it is talent,
instinct. How they have to move, create spaces.
He does not need to be controlled like a TV
remote control. He is going to do it himself.”
– Slump –
Guardiola confirmed City captain Vincent
Kompany’s injury problems are still continuing
after he missed the Huddersfield game and he
will sit out the first leg against Monaco.
The City manager, however, hopes Kompany’s
leg injury will have recovered in time for the
FA Cup replay against Huddersfield next week.
Meanwhile, City’s forward Kevin De Bruyne
insists he is happy with his form despite a
dramatic drop off in his goalscoring output this
season.
Having scored 16 times last season, De Bruyne
has netted just five this term, and hit the net
twice in the last 18 games dating back to the
start of November.
“No, not at all. I never look at my stats,” said
De Bruyne when asked if he was worried by his
slump.
“I know it is very important for other people.
Because I play deeper and not everyone sees
that, I am comparing that.
“I can see very good how well I am playing for
the team, even without me scoring. If we can
win a title I will be very happy.
“I am playing very consistently. I played a little
more defensively than at the start of the season
but we changed a lot of positions for me
personally.
“I know people are looking at a lot of statistics,
for me I am playing better than last year but
maybe statistically a bit worse.”
