BURNLEY (AFP) - Pep Guardiola declared Sergio Aguero "a legend" after the forward became the first player since Thierry Henry to score 20 Premier League goals in five successive seasons.
Aguero struck in the 63rd minute to secure Manchester City's 1-0 win away to Burnley at Turf Moor on Sunday (April 28) that saw the English champions return to the top of the table.
City's 12th successive league victory took them to 92 points, one clear of second-placed Liverpool with both clubs still having two league matches each to play this season.
Aguero has managed 230 goals in eight years with City, making him far and away the club's all-time top scorer, and the 30-year-old Argentina striker has played a key role in the three league titles they have won during that period.
"He is a legend; he does that all the time, score important goals for us," Guardiola said. "He is an incredible player."
City remain on course to finish the season with an unprecedented domestic treble; having won the League Cup in February, they return to Wembley to play Watford in the FA Cup final on May 18.
Failure to defeat Burnley would have handed Liverpool the initiative in the title race, but City overcame spirited opposition to keep matters in their own hands.
Aguero, who had seen an earlier chance blocked by Tom Heaton, scored after turning on to Bernardo Silva's low cross and fashioning a shot that Matt Lowton looked to have blocked, only for the ball to loop up off the defender's chest and cross the line before he could clear it - although goal-line technology was needed before the goal was awarded.
Â
Â
Â
City were denied a second by a superb goal-line clearance from Ben Mee, who stretched to clear off the line after substitute Gabriel Jesus had rounded Heaton.
Guardiola was delighted with the solidity of his team, who won without their key midfielder Fernandinho and the creativity of Kevin de Bruyne.
"Here in the most typical English stadium, we didn't concede one corner," Guardiola said.
"It is not easy, especially after our (Champions League) defeat against Tottenham, but our reaction has been outstanding, without Kevin, without Fernandinho, to come here and play the way we played."
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss added: "There are just two games left. It is tough for Liverpool, it is tough for us - with 91, 92 points, still not champions."
Guardiola suggested that City's task at Turf Moor was made tougher by the dryness of the pitch, although he made clear this was not a complaint.
"In the first half, the pitch was so dry and we had problems moving the ball because the grass was so high," Guardiola explained.
"But when the opponents come to the Etihad Stadium, we put the stadium like we want. When we go away, they do what they want. That is why I like the Premier League."
Burnley had little more than 30 percent possession, yet still had the best first-half chance, with Chris Wood failing to control Jeff Hendrick's through ball and allowing goalkeeper Ederson off his line to smother.
City, who piled intense pressure on Burnley's goal in the first 20 minutes of the second half, did sit off to protect their lead after that - a source of pride for Burnley boss Sean Dyche.
"In the closing minutes, I heard Pep Guardiola screaming 'get it in the corner'," said Dyche.
"Even the best sides have to do it. I thought it was refreshing to hear a top manager scream that to his players."
Lions' new coach Tatsuma Yoshida wants more intensity, confidence Technique is second but, first, I want the players to want the ball. "I want them asking for the ball and not being scared
Newspapers | Media | Virginia Bus
virginiabus.info/sports/football-my-players-must-want-the-ball-says-new-lions-coach-tatsuma-yoshida/
If we want to be a ball-playing team, we need to have confidence first, the players must want the ball." During the informal game, he was seen pulling winger Gabriel Quak aside to give more instructions. After training, Yoshida was also giving forward Adam Swandi pointers.
Lions coach Tatsuma Yoshida unfazed by criticism, Latest
the continuing success is the same as: the ongoing success, and is not tied to a verb tense; it functions like a regular adjective. the continued success is the past participle of the verb continue used as an adjective.
Vow Renewal Ceremony Samples | Hawaiian Isle Weddings
Football: Palace climb away from troube with 3-1 win at
The most heavily touristed area in Brussels is the striking Grand-Place. It is a UNESCO world heritage site and was once the meeting place of Flemish guilds. My nerdy history buff side had a field day imagining I was a Flemish textile merchant in the 15th century (yeah…). It was so easy to imagine, I mean look! Moving on…
If you're feeling tired and forgetful your Vitamin B levels
Kepa Arrizabalaga should be "sacked" for his extraordinary show of dissent towards coach Maurizio Sarri during Chelsea's EFL Cup Final defeat to Manchester City, according to Chris Sutton. Kepa
Kepa Arrizabalaga deserves to be sacked by Chelsea after
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso believes his growing world championship lead "means nothing" and that the title race is still wide open. The Spaniard won in Germany to move 34 points clear of Red Bull's
Man City v Liverpool: The best ever English title race?
Argentina have appointed 80-year-old former coach Cesar Luis Menotti as director of national teams, the Argentine Football Association said on Monday. Menotti, who led Argentina to their first
Menotti named Argentina's director of national teams - The
Football: AC Milan miss out on top-four finish in Serie A
Marquinhos, Kylian Mbappe, Angel Di Maria and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored PSG's goals in their first outing since their disastrous exit from the Champions League in the last 16 at the hands of
PSG win in first outing since Champions League nightmare
Football News. 24/7. but Spurs encountered a Barcelona side on a mission, spearheaded by their effervescent skipper who seems to be on a personal crusade to take his beloved club back to the
Messi on a mission: Barcelona are Champions League - goal.com
Football: Rafael Benítez fumes as Wolves deny Newcastle with another stoppage-time equaliser. Benitez wants VAR straight away after last-gasp loss.
What Firmino did in the final 5 minutes vs Crystal Palace
sportslifetale.com/soccer/what-firmino-did-in-the-final-5-minutes-vs-crystal-palace-sums-him-up/
A player more used to scoring and creating goals instead of keeping them out, the Brazilian forward reverted to right-back as the match entered five minutes of stoppage time. And Reds fans online felt that the move summed up Firmino's relentless and selfless nature.
Benitez fumes says Prem 'don't understand the rules' after
High stakes for 'gambler' Low BERLIN • Germany coach Joachim Low is hoping to prove his critics wrong by putting their annus horribilis behind them with a win when his new-look team host Serbia in a friendly in Wolfsburg today.
High Stakes for Problem Gamblers - aproundtable.org
Jurgen Klopp hails Liverpool's fighting spirit as he sets points target for title. Jurgen Klopp hailed Liverpool's fighting spirit after they recovered from a goal down to beat Southampton and
Messi is unstoppable, Klopp hails Messi - Punch Newspapers
Sarri slammed over Kepa but says issue settled, Football News
Search the history of over 356 billion web pages on the Internet.
The Straits Times Audio Features - omnycontent.com
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen