Aguero’s record will call for celebration

PEP Guardiola wants Manchester City to pay tribute to Sergio Aguero when the Argentine “legend” becomes their record goalscorer.

Aguero grabbed a hat-trick in City’s 6-0 rout of Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday and stands just two goals behind Eric Brook’s all-time mark of 177 in the 1920s and 1930s.

City boss Guardiola believes it is now simply a question of when, not if, Aguero claims the record.

“Sergio now needs three goals to beat the record. It will be soon,” he said.

“Hopefully we can make a good celebration because he’s a legend, a part of the history of the club.”

Guardiola also paid tribute to Aguero’s unselfishness after disobeying Guardiola’s orders to allow Raheem Sterling to take the 89th minute penalty which completed the rout of Watford.

“Sergio showed again what a good guy he is.

“I like penalties to be taken by the penalty taker, but I understand Raheem created the penalty and it was with my blessing that Sergio gave it to him when it is already 05,” Guardiola said.

Gabriel Jesus and Nicolas Otamendi were City’s other goalscorers as they leapt over Manchester neighbours United to the top of the Premier League table.

Unlike last season, when his side’s thrilling start to the campaign saw them win 10 straight games in all competitions, only to end the season without a trophy, Guardiola believes his side are better equipped to maintain their form in this campaign.

“Last season we won with the enthusiasm for the new manager and the new players. Some games we won because we were new,” he said.

“I think we are more stable now. The players know me better, I know them better.

“The fundamentals are the same as last season but we have good players and a good spirit.”

Watford manager Marco Silva knows his team’s season will not be defined by this result. But he is adamant his players must learn to handle teams which possess City’s power up front.

“It was not a good afternoon for us, but it is a good match for our team to learn from,” he said.

“City . . . only changed one player from Wednesday.

“We need to look forward. We lost only three points . . .

“It is difficult to play against City, not only Aguero.

“What they did this afternoon, they did eight days before against Liverpool and in the Champions League.” Silva said.

He complained that two of City’s first three goals were offside and then that his team were denied a clear penalty.

“When the referees make mistakes, it makes it more difficult. It is clear that the referee made mistakes,” he said. — AFP