Pep Guardiola plays down speculation linking Sergio Aguero with a move away from Man City - 7M sport

Pep Guardiola plays down speculation linking Sergio Aguero with a move away from Man City



Posted Sunday, March 05, 2017 by Express.co.uk

Pep Guardiola plays down speculation linking Sergio Aguero with a move away from Man City
Sergio Aguero has scored four goals in his last two games

PEP GUARDIOLA has tried to quell speculation about a transfer for Sergio Aguero by insisting that the striker is "so happy" at Manchester City.

The little Argentine forward has been a revitalised force after the shock of losing his automatic first-choice play in the side to young Brazilian ace Gabriel Jesus.

Since an injury to Jesus opened the door back into the team Aguero has scored four goals in the last two games for Manchester City and looked at his most potent for many months.

True competition for places has always been the decisive way to confront complacency in a sportsman --- and there is no doubt about Aguero's hunger right now.

"This is the best that Sergio has played since I came to the club," said City manager Pep Guardiola as he prepared for today's visit to bottom-of-the-table Sunderland.

"I love the way he played in the FA Cup match against Huddersfield, how he was involved, how he was angry for example with the decisions of the referee and how he reacted.

"I loved he made the transitions when he lost the ball and how he was involved not just in scoring goals but in the way we play.

"So that's why I say it's the best performance."

Guardiola was never more delighted than seeing anger and desire on the face of Aguero.

"He was shouting at Pablo (Zabaleta) when he was not happy with one pass," added the City boss.

"That's desire --- and when that happens you are in the game. When you're in the game, after that you're aggressive with the penalty.

"His first touch is good and when that happens Sergio really is an unbelievable player --- not just in the box, but in all terms.

"That's why we were so happy --- and I know that he so happy. Despite what people say, I know he is so happy."

City now face four matches in 10 days, a period that could make or break their season with a tough Champions League tie away to Monaco and an FA Cup quarter-final among them.

With Jesus still many weeks away from a possible return, Guardiola hopes that Aguero can feature in all these games.

"Sergio is more than ready to do that," said the City boss. "He is really, really fit but of course we have other players like Kelechi Icheanacho.

"I love these games. I prefer to be there than to be out of the competition. It is what it is about the scandal, or the problem of how many games.

"I am not the right guy to discuss your rules, and how you decide to play the games and the amount of games."

Guardiola also had praise for another City player who has looked rejuvenated in recent weeks --- central defender John Stones, who has cut out a string of errors on the ball that cost the side goals.

"John has taken a good step forward in the last month and a half," said the City manager. "His quality with the build up is good and he has improved on the mistakes that he made. But the player needs help and we are here to try to help him.

"He has had that help from Gareth Southgate at the national team and Roberto Martinez at Everton before. There is always something they can learn from their managers."

Tomorrow, of course, Stones comes up against the manager David Moyes who first spotted his potential as a teenage at Barnsley and bought him for a bargain £3million  four years ago.



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