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‘It was his decision,’ says City boss as legend Aguero f
AFTER scoring 258 goals and staking a claim for the most famous moment in Manchester City’s history, Sergio Aguero deserves the statue commissioned in his honour.
But when the Argentine looks back on his decade at the Etihad and polishes his fifth Premier League title medal, he will curse this evening.
Aguero blew the chance to add another chapter to his legend with a penalty miss that will haunt him into his dotage. Pep Guardiola’s side had just taken the lead through Raheem Sterling when Aguero’s attempt to beat Edouard Mendy with a Panenka-style chip left him red-faced with shame.
Thomas Tuchel’s men then made sure City’s wait for the title goes on, with Hakim Ziyech grabbing an equaliser and Marcos Alonso firing home an injury-time winner.
“It was his (Aguero) decision,” said Guardiola of the miss that turned the tide of the contest.
“The taker has to make his own decision. I said to him, ‘Take your decision and be fully convinced’.
“Sergio decided to do it this way and .... ” That City will win the league
ALONG CAME ALONSO With the match in injury time Marcos Alonso claimed the goal that delayed City‘s title celebrations... if only for a day is not in doubt given they need just three points from their final three games.
But Tuchel (below right) has outsmarted Guardiola twice inside a few weeks – and if he does it a third time later this month then Chelsea will be crowned European champions.
“This result will not change the final because it is such a unique game,” said the Chelsea boss.
“But we are now armed with the knowledge that we are capable of beating them.
It gives us confidence. If
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we had been 2-0 down at half-time then we would have had no chance to come back.
“We created chances and we deserved to win.
“I am absolutely delighted by our performance.”
The west Londoners were indeed good value for a victory that lifts them into third place. With an FA
Cup Final date with Leicester looming on Saturday it’s fair to say the German’s impact at Stamford Bridge has been more than a bit special.
Since taking over from Frank Lampard in December he has also beaten Jurgen Klopp, Diego Simeone, Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho and Zinedine Zidane. This was a slow burner of a contest that only sparked into life in the closing moments of the first half with Sterling’s goal and Aguero’s miss. Forty-three minutes had been pla outmuscled a contest fo
The Braz ball to Ague first touch needed Ster to score.
Christens his tussle w substitute himself on, Billy Gilmo and referee to the spot.
Taylor – even cleare Sterling lat
If we had been 2-0 down at half-time then we would have had no chance to come back
luffs his Panenka penalty
ayed when Gabriel Jesus Andreas Christensen in r Ruben Dias’ pass. ilian then squared the ero, but the Argentine’s
was so loose that it rling to apply the finish
en pulled a hamstring in with Jesus – and before Kurt Zouma could get City were in again when ur bundled over Jesus Anthony Taylor pointed
and VAR – missed an er penalty offence on ter in the game. But
Aguero’s spot-kick was so weak that Mendy was able to recover his balance to save after initially committing himself to his right.
If Guardiola needs five players to step up in Istanbul on May 29, his club’s record goalscorer might not get the nod.
Ziyech – the match-winner when Chelsea beat City at Wembley – rammed home the equaliser just after the hour from Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross after the Chelsea skipper had dispossessed Rodri.
And now Chelsea were in the ascendancy.
But the visitors did get a break when Manchester-based referee
Taylor and VAR official Andy Halliday failed to spot substitute Zouma’s assault on Sterling as the City forward broke into the Chelsea penalty box.
Guardiola had no doubts. “It’s a penalty,” he said. “It’s a penalty and that’s it.
“Maybe between them the referees don’t think they can make a mistake.
“I have seen it on TV and it’s a penalty.”
There was also a touch of good fortune about Alonso’s winner, the Spaniard scuffing Werner’s cross into the ground and seeing the ball spiral over Ederson.