Pep Guardiola Challenges Man City Players to Raise Their Level

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is confident that veteran striker Sergio Aguero can rediscover his best form after recent struggles with injuries, but is demanding more from his squad as a whole following a poor start to the 2020/21 season by the club’s high standards.

Prior to kick-off against Fulham this weekend, Aguero has only managed 190 minutes in all competitions so far this season and has only featured once since October.

The Argentine, who is City’s all-time record scorer, hasn’t played regularly since June because of the ongoing knee trouble, nor is he ready to make his return just yet. However, when he does, Guardiola expects he will be the same player that he was before.

“When he will be fit, he will be the same player,” the boss said, via ManCity.com.

“Age is the age. He has to be fit and will need a little more time than Raheem Sterling or Phil Foden [to recover] because the physicality of his body is different. I am optimistic he will help us this season – to do what Sergio does – but for that, he needs no pain in the knee.

“We are working on it. Today, he feels much better and when he can train for one or two weeks in normal conditions, he will come back with his best. His sense of goal is unique in this team. It’s so important.”

City have struggled for goals without Aguero. Last weekend’s 5-0 thrashing of Burnley was the first time the team had scored more than once in a Premier League game since the second week of the season. Combined with existing defensive issues, trouble scoring has pushed City into mid-table.

Now, Guardiola has urged every player in the squad to raise their level while trying to nurture a level of competition for places that will keep individuals on their toes.

“All the players know now there are players who play good and don't play the next game,” he added, in quotes relayed by the Daily Mail.

“There is a misunderstanding about the word rotation. Rotation looks like, ‘I'm a big star and now I don't play this game because I'm going to play the next important game [instead]’. This is a huge mistake for the players to have in their heads.

“Now they know that having 19 or 20 players fit they have to raise their standards and play in as high a level as possible. That's the only way to get close to the biggest teams in Europe and the biggest team in the Premier League.”

For more from Jamie Spencer, follow him on Twitter and Facebook!