Explanation shan’t be necessary for this iconic moment in the 2011/12 season, a moment which will go down as the most dramatic moment in Premier League history. Yet this also sums up Sergio Aguero’s style of play: typical South-American forward, bullying his way into the box, retaining balance with his wonderful low centre of gravity, and having the composure to clinically finish from a tight angle.
The old phrase that ‘the domestic cups are a sprint, the Championship is a marathon’ is true and that season certainly gave us a photo finish, however, the lack of involvement in the 2012/13 season of their Argentinian front-man played a significant role in Manchester City’s weak defence of the crown.
A reoccurring hamstring injury was the bane of Sergio Aguero, and Manchester City’s season, and this becomes relevant when looking at the statistics. In the Championship-winning season, the 25-year-old was the club’s leading goalscorer with an impressive 23 league goals. Last season, that total only reached 12 due to his time spent on the sidelines.
Roberto Mancini’s squad was filled with goal-scoring talent to fill in with the similarly bullish Carlos Tevez, class and innovative style of David Silva and the physical presence of Edin Dzeko. Yet something wasn’t right at the Etihad and none of these players filled in Aguero’s goalscoring boots.
Tevez has finally taken the exit door out of the Etihad stadium and made the switch to the Serie A champions, Juventus, a belated move after the rocky relationship he had with his Italian manager.
Dzeko became the only attacking option for Manuel Pellegrini, the new Manchester City manager, whilst Aguero continues to remain on the medical table, and the big Serbian certainly doesn’t have the presence now that led to Sheik Mansour forking out £27 million to Wolfsburg for his services in 2011.
This has lead to Pellegrini bringing in some replacements in the shape of Sevilla’s Alvaro Negredo for what is believed to be £24 million and will soon be followed by Fiorentina’s Stevan Jovetic.
Negredo, who joins former-Sevilla teammate Jesus Navas at the Etihad, is a proven goalscorer, netting 26 La Liga goals last season which is just what Pellegrini required having assessed his current squad.
It is widely believed that the return of the Special One to Stamford Bridge puts Chelsea in prime position to take the Premier League crown away from Old Trafford, but should Sergio Aguero shake off this hamstring injury and remain fit for the pending season, Pellegrini will believe that his men are in with a strong chance.
With these new assets to the Chilean’s squad and the uncertainty of the upcoming season with so many changes occurring in player and management positions, the new Manchester City manager will hope that come May 2014 either Sergio Aguero or one of his new forwards can create the iconic moment of the 2013/14 season and will put Manchester City back on top of the Barclays Premier League.
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