Football: Pep Guardiola to make Sergio Aguero an all-rounder

After Argentinian's double on return, boss says he can improve in possession, support

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has vowed to make Sergio Aguero an even better player. PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON • Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has vowed to make Sergio Aguero an even better player.

The Argentinian striker scored two goals on his return to City colours as the visitors made it 10 straight wins in league and Cup football this season with a 3-1 victory away to Swansea on Saturday.

Having missed the previous three games through suspension, Aguero took only eight minutes to give City the lead in the Premier League match.

Fernando Llorente levelled five minutes later, but Aguero's penalty, in the 65th minute, and a third goal from Raheem Sterling, 13 minutes from time, made the game safe.

This victory means Guardiola has become the second manager to win his first six Premier League matches, following in the footsteps of Carlo Ancelotti, who did the same thing with Chelsea in 2009, and it promises to be some game at White Hart Lane on Sunday when City take on Tottenham Hotspur, four points behind, in a top-of-the-table match.

The Spaniard was happy with the win, but still wants more from his players, including Aguero, who has now scored 11 times in six games this season.

Guardiola said: "I am so happy for him. But I think he can play better and I will try to tell him.

"He has great ability and in the box there is nothing I can do to help him. But maybe I can help him develop, like keeping the ball and helping the rest of the team."

Swansea, beaten by Guardiola's men in the League Cup in midweek, certainly gave City a tougher test than their 16th position suggested was possible.

"I was not surprised by Swansea," said the City manager. "They have good players and the goal they scored was very good.

"But I thought we did well with the ball. We were able to attack behind the midfield line and that was what I wanted. We played really well in the second half and we created some good chances. I think we deserved to win."

The only setback for City was the sight of Kevin de Bruyne limping off in the second half.

Guardiola said: "Kevin is injured. It is a pity. From the way he reacted, it looked like a muscle injury. He will be going in to see the doctor on Sunday."

The pressure is certainly mounting on Swansea manager Francesco Guidolin, for whom this was a fourth league defeat of the season.

"The performance was good in my opinion. Manchester City are the best team in the Premier League, but I thought my team played at the same level as them," the Italian said.

"I am proud of my players, but of course, I am disappointed with the result.

"However, if we play this way in the future, we will be okay."

It certainly does not get any easier for the Swans. They play Liverpool on Saturday and Arsenal on Oct 15 at the Emirates.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, THE GUARDIAN

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 26, 2016, with the headline Football: Pep Guardiola to make Sergio Aguero an all-rounder. Subscribe