Sergio Aguero still a vital player for Manchester City

A lot has happened at Manchester City since Argentinian international striker Sergio Aguero joined the Citizens back in 2011, with the main events being City winning the Premier League on three occasions.

Players and coaches have come and gone at the Manchester club, but the diminutive striker has been a constant in City’s rise to dominance in the English game.

Aguero is still a vital member of City’s team and the 30-year-old recently signed a one-year contract extension with the Citizens.

Guardiola has improved the striker

When Pep Guardiola first arrived at City in the summer of 2016 there was talk of Aguero leaving the club as he was not Guardiola’s sort of striker. He did not work hard enough to press or win the ball.

The speculation over his future has continued over the past few years. However, during that time Guardiola’s management seems to have improved the striker. He may not be any more prolific in front of goal, but he is working harder for the team.

Aguero is using his pace to press opposition defences, which is a key in how the City boss wants his team to play the game. In short, Guardiola’s presence has spurred the striker on to achieve more.

An outstanding goalscorer

For me, Sergio Aguero does not get the credit he deserves when people talk about Premier League greats. The Argentinian seems to slip the minds of experts and fans alike in discussions over great players that have graced the English top-flight over the last 25 years.

I remembered a journalist describing him as ‘just a goalscorer’, which is a bizarre thing to say when it comes to football. Football is not over endued with players who find the net on a regular basis.

However, Sergio Aguero is one of them. The lowest goal tally of Aguero’s seven-year in the Premier League career was 12 back in his second season with the Citizens. The last four seasons he has scored 20-plus goals in the English top-flight.

Not many players achieve that sort of consistency in the Premier League. This season the striker has already bagged himself three goals in five top-flight appearances. If he avoids injuries, I have no doubt he will once again score 20-plus goals in the top-flight this season.

Aguero is one of my favourite players of the Premier League era. He is simply an outstanding goalscorer and a fine footballer.

First-choice striker at Manchester City

When Brazilian international striker Gabriel Jesus arrived at City in the January transfer window of 2017, he hit the ground running in the English top-flight. For a while, he displaced Aguero as the first choice striker.

However, the Argentinian has worked hard to keep his place in the City starting line-up. Guardiola did rotate the South American pair last season at times, but it now seems that Aguero is the first choice striker, despite the pair starting together this season at one point.

At the minute, it is an easy decision for the City boss as Jesus has struggled for goals of late. The Brazilian started Wednesday’s 2-1 home defeat against Lyon in the Champions League, as Aguero had picked up a knock at the weekend. Aguero came off the substitute’s bench in the game, so must be fit.

I can see the Argentinian returning for City’s visit to Cardiff on Saturday, a game the Citizens are odds of 1/6 to win. It would take a brave man to back against the striker adding to his Premier League tally at the Cardiff City Stadium.

For the stars that have come and gone at City, Aguero has been a mainstay for Citizens. It looks like it will stay that way for a couple more seasons at least.

Will Sergio Aguero start Manchester City’s game at Cardiff?