On Thursday night, Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero was involved in a car accident in Amsterdam.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the 29-year-old has sustained fractured ribs, while other reports from the striker’s homeland Argentina claim he could be out of action for up to three months.
City have released a statement saying that the striker will be assessed by the club doctors later today. This incident comes on the back of the news that left-back Benjamin Mendy has fractured his anterior cruciate ligament. The big money summer signing could miss the rest of the season.
Aguero has bought into Guardiola’s philosophy
Aguero had started last season on fire in front of goal, firing in 11 goals in his first six matches under Guardiola. The goals were not enough, though.
The former Barcelona boss still did not seem satisfied with the striker’s contribution to the team’s efforts. The problem that Guardiola seemed to have with Aguero was that he did not work hard enough to press the opposition, something he demands in his forward players.
The City boss seemed unsure that Aguero was his sort of striker. At times, City boss Guardiola even benched the City legend and preferred Brazilian Gabriel Jesus up front.
This season Aguero has turned things around by being more of a team player. He is now proving that he is not just a greedy one-man goal machine. In six top-flight appearances this season, the striker has already supplied three assists, which is the same tally for the whole of last season.
The 29-year-old is contributing to the team play a lot more and everybody in the team is benefiting from it. There was talk of the Argentinian international leaving in January and then in January.
However, it seems highly doubtful he is going anywhere, especially as it seems he has not struck up a rapport with his supposed replacement Jesus.
City have attacking options aplenty
Manchester City have not spent big money in recent years for no reason. The Citizens have assembled a highly talented squad, including a breath-taking amount of attacking options.
The likes of David Silva, Kevin de Bruyne, Leroy Sane, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling are a treat to watch at times. They are all very capable players and City will no doubt to continue to score goals without Aguero.
However, Sergio Aguero is a different sort of player to the rest of the City’s attackers. None of the aforementioned players are real goal poachers. There is an argument that Jesus falls into that category, but he is not yet in the same class as Aguero for sheer goal-scoring output.
A big game for City on Saturday
Any potential injury to Aguero could not have come at a worse time for Manchester City. The Citizens face a test of their title credentials on Saturday, as they visit Stamford Bridge to play reigning champions Chelsea, a game the visitors are odds of 9/5 to win.
The game was always going to be a difficult one. However, without Aguero, it could prove an even more difficult clash for Pep Guardiola’s side.
City’s form in recent weeks has been exceptional. Aguero has played a major part in that good run of form, though. His goals and sheer energy will no doubt be a key to City having a successful campaign.
For me, City losing Aguero for any length of time could be a massive blow to the Citizens. They do have other attacking players, but such has been his good form of late he will be a massive miss.
Only time will tell how long Aguero is sidelined for and the effect it has on the City team. Everybody connected with the club from Manchester will be hoping that the striker is back to full health sooner rather than later. From everybody at Soccernews get well soon Sergio.
