Let there be peace
Pep wants to continue strong rapport with Aguero
LONDON: Pep Guardiola insists his relationship with Sergio Aguero remains strong despite mounting speculation over the Manchester City striker’s future since the arrival of Gabriel Jesus.
Teenage sensation Jesus took Aguero’s place in Guardiola’s starting line-up before breaking a bone in his foot, an injury that may rule the Brazilian out for the remainder of the season.
That forced Guardiola to recall Aguero for an FA Cup fifth-round draw at second-tier Huddersfield on Sunday.
But it was an uninspired performance by Aguero in the goalless draw and the rapport between forward and manager looked strained.
With just two goals to his name since the end of November, recent events have fuelled the speculation that Aguero, 28, could end his sixyear stay with City once the current campaign is over.
But, as Guardiola prepared for the first leg of the last-16 clash with Monaco in the Champions League on Tuesday, the City boss insisted he is handling Aguero no differently to at any time in the past.
“Sergio has enough experience. He knows, everyone knows,” Guardiola told reporters on Monday.
“We are going to talk with him like with all of his team-mates to convince him in these two games, 180 minutes, that we are not going to be able to do our best performance because in this level it is so demanding in the Champions League.
“It is one of the most beautiful competitions to play, maybe not the most important, but the most beautiful and we have to do our best.
“But the guys who score goals, it is talent, instinct. How they have to move, create spaces. He does not need to be controlled like a TV remote control. He is going to do it himself.” — AFP