Precious Aguero proves the difference for prudent Pep
HAVING scored Manchester City’s second goal, Sergio Aguero was withdrawn before Brighton even kicked off again.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.
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 foot injury sustained against Newcastle a month ago that 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 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 against Hoffenheim taking on added significance because of an opening-day 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: ‘For a club like ours, you can lose big here.’
So City hogged 71 per cent possession and Mat Ryan had already been called into action to save from Sane when Sterling made the breakthrough. The Aussie made brilliant saves to deny Sterling and David Silva and prevent a higher margin..
Man City (4-3-3): Ederson 6; Walker 6.5, Laporte 6, Otamendi 6, Zinchenko 6.5; Fernandinho 6.5, B Silva 7, D Silva 7 (Foden 88min); Sterling 7.5, Aguero 8 (Jesus 66, 6), Sane 7 (Mahrez 71, 6). Subs (not used): Muric, Danilo, Kompany, Stones.
Brighton (4-5-1): Ryan 7; Montoya 6, Duffy 6, Dunk 6.5, Bong 6.5; Knockaert 5.5 (Jahanbakhsh 78, 5.5), Propper 6, Kayal 6, March 5.5 (Izquierdo 83), Bissouma 5.5; Locadia 5.5 (Murray 73 5.5).
Booked: Knockaert, Montoya, Duff. Subs (not used): Button, Bruno, Balogun, Bernardo.
referee: L Mason 6.5.