Sergio Aguero has seen himself fallen down the pecking order at Manchester City since the arrival of Gabriel Jesus in January fuelling speculations that he could be on his way out of the club in the summer.
The Argentinean striker is City top scorer with 18 goals in 28 appearances this season but has lost his place in the first team to the Brazilian teenage sensation and that might seem bizarre to many.
He is expected to lead City’s attack against Monaco in the Champions League on Tuesday night and he may have to prove his worth to Pep Guardiola if he is to get back into the Spaniard’s good books. He has not scored in his last six outings with his last goal coming in the 5-0 mauling of West Ham on January 6.
But despite being their top scorer, City have scored more goals without him, (2.2 per game) than with him (2.03 per game), and Guardiola is aware of these stats. The former Barcelona boss tactical approach only allows for one central striker and he seems to prefer players like Gabriel who can play on the flank and through the middle, something lacking in Aguero.
It seems Guardiola also wants more than just with the ball from Aguero, probably in pressing for the ball. He had warned the forward that he could not “disappear when you don’t have the ball” and it has showed in City’s win rate without Aguero (80%) compared to that with him (54%).
Aguero needs to get his scoring boots on and start doing what he is best known for. Also he needs to work on his attitude on the pith. The former Atletico Madrid hit-man has missed seven premier league matches through suspensions resulting from two red cards.