CHAMPION MENTALITY

Aguero staying put and on hunt for silverware

SERGIO AGUERO insists Man City fans care about the Champions League – and he’s determined to stick around and win it for them one day.

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The Argentine racked up yet another hat-trick in their trouncing of Chelsea last Sunday – no wonder fans at The Etihad are talking about him being possibly the club’s greatest-ever player.

And the good news for those City supporters is that Aguero, 30, insists there is more to come.

He has been linked with moves away from England over the years but says he has no plans to leave – especially while being managed by Pep Guardiola (right).

Aguero said: “City is a champion team with a champion coach. What else am I going to want?

“I’m very happy at City and for now I don’t even think about leaving. It’s a great club that always looks after its players. I saw it from the very first day I arrived and it’s continued ever since.”

When he eventually does leave City, Aguero’s legacy is going to be a remarkable one. He has already won three Premier League titles and as many League Cups. And given his contribution – he already has 222 goals for the club

– it wouldn’t be a shock if there were calls for a statue of him to be commissioned when he waves goodbye.

“Oh, I don’t know,” he said.

“I think I would look very strange! And maybe it would be too much. But these things do not depend on me. I just want to win trophies and score goals.” His next chance to find the net will be on Wednesday night as they begin their assault on the knockout stages of the Champions League with a trip to Schalke.

City supporters boo the Champions League anthem when their team play in Europe, reflecting a feeling that UEFA has treated the club badly over the years. And that feeling lingers with financial fair play still on the agenda at European football’s governing body even though City are not under investigation.

But Aguero has no doubts just how important the Champions League is to

fans at the Etihad. “For me there’s huge value to winning the Champions League and I think it’s also the same for our fans,” he said.

“To win the Champions League would fulfil a personal dream. I won a Europa League and a European Super Cup with Atletico and I would like to complete the set. But I know it’s not easy.

“Schalke is a tough opponent like all the German clubs, but I am not complaining about the draw. I respect them a lot but there were theoretically more complicated teams. So it’s up to us to play well and go through.”

Aguero has scored 23 goals in all competitions this season but added: “What interests me is the number of games that City win. If I reach 30 goals then of course it would be sensational. But it’s not something which obsesses me.

It’s trophies which matter.

“We play together as a team and we know that individuals on their own don’t decide victories. We all share the same goals and the Champions

League is one of them.”