Brazil ace can fill Sergio boots

PEP GUARDIOLA revealed Manchester City would have lost star striker Sergio Aguero for at least a month had he played against Bournemouth.

Aguero remains a doubt for City’s trip to Watford tomorrow after the club’s all-time leading goalscorer was left out against the Cherries with muscle fatigue.

If Aguero is not risked at Vicarage Road, then Gabriel Jesus – without a Premier League goal since August 19 – will lead City’s attack.

But boss Guardiola says he still has faith in Jesus, despite the Brazilian, 21, drawing another blank.

“The doctors told me yesterday Sergio cannot play,” said Guardiola. “If he plays, maybe four or five weeks off.

“In that situation this month, with a lot of games, he was not safe.

“It’s going to happen in the future, in the next games. People will start to be tired in a lot of games. That’s why we have a deep squad.

“Gabriel is a delight. He’s young and he will improve because he has the desire and that’s important. He helped us a lot.”

Asked if Aguero will be fit to face Watford, Guardiola said: “I’m not quite sure. We’ll see tomorrow.

“I speak with doctors every day. They say ‘ready’ or ‘not ready’ and we decide.”

City had to dig deep for victory in the first of nine matches in December, a month that will undoubtedly take its toll on the mental and physical well-being of their squad.

Same

Last December Guardiola said the Premier League was “killing” players with such a gruelling fixture schedule but this time around he said they cannot afford to moan at the workload ahead.

“It is what it is,” he added. “Adapt. We play nine games but many of our contenders and opponents do too.

“It’s the same, so why should we complain?

“Sleep a lot. Eat good. Drink a lot in a good way – no wine – and prepare.”

Bernardo Silva put City ahead with his sixth goal of the season before Callum Wilson equalised just before the break.

City stepped up a gear in the second half with goals from Raheem Sterling and Ilkay Gundogan securing the win which maintained their unbeaten run in the league this term.

Bernardo said: “It’s a little bit of pressure for our rivals – they have to win to stay close to us.

“But it’s only the start of December, so too early to talk about pressure.”

The same applies to the Cherries, according to Wilson, despite four straight Premier League defeats.

The striker, who scored his ninth goal of the campaign, said: “Over the past four games, apart from the