PEP’S POWER SERG
Aguero clinches win for Guardiola’s men despite foot injury
HAVING scored Manchester City’s second goal, Sergio Aguero was withdrawn before Brighton even kicked off again. The Argentine is that precious to Pep Guardiola, whose mind has swiftly moved on from a routine victory to a very important Champions league date in Germany on Tuesday night.
Aguero’s second-half goal, which he instigated by playing a superb one-two with Raheem Sterling, was his 15th in the last 11 Premier League games played at the Etihad Stadium.
What makes the striker’s current performances more remarkable is that he is playing through a painful f oot i njury sustained against Newcastle a month a go t hat increases Guardiola’s wish to wrap him in cotton wool.
‘We were lucky he scored at the right moment. I was going to change him in any case,’ said the City manager with a smile. ‘Sergio is struggling a bit with problems in his foot. He is not in the best condition and we are trying to control it but he needs time.
‘We have two games left before the international break. Hopefully he can play them and then rest. We spoke today about playing him for an hour.’
In actual fact, Aguero was on the pitch five minutes longer than that. With City dominant but only leading 1-0, Guardiola had Gabriel Jesus ready to come on but held back, hoping his talisman could deliver the knockout blow.
He duly did by weaving around two Brighton challenges before feeding Sterling on the left flank and sprinting into the penalty area to collect the return. Sterling delivered it with perfect pace and Aguero finished smartly from eight yards before trotting straight off to a hug from his manager.
‘I’m a lucky guy to have this kind of group. Everybody knows where his mates are,’ said Guardiola, thankful Aguero had played through the pain barrier and had even helped set up the opening goal after 29 minutes.
On that occasion, he had set Leroy Sane free down the left and the German’s low cross was tapped in by Sterling for his fourth goal of the season and his 46th for City since he last found the net for England in October 2015.
With City’s European game in Hoffenheim taking on added significance because of an openingday loss to Lyon, they will have been grateful for the gentlest of warm-ups.
Brighton, aware that City have scored six against Huddersfield and five at Cardiff this season, seemed keen on damage limitation, with their manager Chris Hughton saying: g ‘For a club like ours, you can lose big here.’
So City hogged 71 per cent possession and Mat t Ryan had already been called into action to save from Sane when n Sterling made the breakthrough. After that, the Australian had to make brilliant saves to deny Sterling ing and David Silva to keep the scoreline coreline down, while Sane headed down and over from six yards. And that is without the numerous Brighton ton blocks, one from an Aguero overhead rhead kick. kick
‘Brighton are a serious team,’ said Guardiola, but by the second half you could see him working out his substitutions t o rest l egs f or Hoffenheim.
Aguero was t he first t o be withdrawn for the champions, after bagging his 148th Premier League goal for the club — the same number Alan Shearer managed for Newcastle. Sane and David Silva followed afterwards to standing ovations, while City fans amused themselves by making fun of rivals United by singing: ‘Jose Mourinho, we want you to stay.’
For Brighton, there was next to nothing in an attacking sense all afternoon, though Hugh ton complained that they should have had a penalty in the closing stages when the ball struck Fernandinho’s hands.
‘Some referees, either this weekend or next weekend or the one after, will give that,’ said Hughton. ‘City are a top side, one of the best the Premier League has seen and they have probably not hit their best form yet. You know you’re going to concede a lot of possession here and it’s hard to press them in the areas you’d like.’
As champions, City scored a record 106 goals last season and their ratio this term — 21 in seven games — is even better and they now sit top of the league. ‘We are playing just as well most of the time. In some situations, even better,’ said Guardiola.
‘We dropped points in Wolves but, in general, all the performances have been quite good. With that spirit, the way we play, everybody is focused. Brighton defend so well and when they are able to contact with the striker they are dangerous. We cannot forget they beat United and they played so good at Anfield, they had chances to take a point.’
Liverpool, who beat City three times last season, are next up in the Premier League. ‘If they beat us three times, it means they are a good side,’ said Guardiola.