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Pep Guardiola kept his word after promising heartbroken Manchester City fans that he intends for Sergio Aguero to come out in a blaze of glory.
The worst scenario for everyone, club, coach, fans and the Argentine legend, would always be that City’s search for four trophies would submerge any sentimentality for the farewell of their all-time top scorer.
In choosing Aguero for a match against Leicester, Guardiola started on the right foot, although he was also a shrewd and pragmatic selection on many levels.
First, Aguero was one of six players who remained in Manchester during the international break, so they rested, physically and mentally, as the Blues plunged into a two-month roller coaster that promises a lot but could still be. ruined by fatigue and injury.
Five of those six started, and the other, Nathan Ake, was still coming back after a long injury break.
The fact that City also achieved the victory justified that decision, and also served to keep that group of players, undoubtedly unhappy with the lack of international action and, in some cases, the involvement of City, feeling part of the push.
Guardiola said Aguero’s response in training has been excellent as he had the difficult task of sitting down with the 32-year-old to tell him that he would not be offered a new contract when his current contract expires this summer.
He would never tell the world if Kun had really given up and spat at his dummy in the training ground, but by choosing him to begin with, the manager underscored the truth of his words.
But nobody is under any illusions. It was a smart team selection, but it was one that clearly had an eye on Borussia Dortmund’s game on Tuesday.
Losing or drawing at Leicester would have little consequence for City, with their cushioned lead at the top of the Premier League, but anything short of a decent win against the Bundesliga side would be far-reaching.
The chances of Aguero starting in that one are slim, with Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva lining up to return to the team, all in good shape.
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Aguero looked rusty at King Power, just as he did in his last outing, in Fulham three weeks ago.
It’s too early to tell if that’s just the natural consequence of being injured for so long and not practicing the game or if, as the Blues seem to feel, a symptom of the inevitable decline of a legend.
It is feasible to see Guardiola turning to Agüero in a situation where he desperately needs a goal in the fateful two months ahead, but his beginnings may well be few and far between, and perhaps restricted to league matches with little danger. and possibly the Carabao Cup final, as a nod to romance.
It was noted that City pressure was not as fierce and effective as usual with Agüero leading the line, and Gabriel Jesús broke through.
Brazil’s number nine often faces Agüero in terms of his goal numbers, but in this game, it was Agüero who came out on the wrong side of the comparison.
Jesus was competitive, fast, dangerous and grabbed a goal, while Aguero was limited to a couple of wild volleys and very little contribution.
It almost feels heretical to dissect Agüero’s performance in this way, at the twilight end of a rather magnificent decade with City, but every game in which he is a shadow of what he was is one more confirmation of the veracity of the decision of the city. club.
Jesús feels like a bubbling player, who could emerge from the overwhelming shadow of a legend to become a legendary forward in his own right.
And with Guardiola saying that the club cannot afford to buy Erling Haaland or any other expensive new striker this summer, believe it or not, the horizon is widening for Jesus, who celebrated his 24th birthday with a killer second goal he created. and finished.
We saw Fernandinho flourish after Yaya Touré left, and there’s no reason why Jesús can’t do the same – the talent and work ethic are there.
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