Pep Guardiola Provides Update on Sergio Aguero Ahead of Marseille Game

Pep Guardiola has confirmed Sergio Aguero could be set for a return to action in Manchester City's final Champions League group game against Marseille on Wednesday night.

The Argentina international endured a frustrating end to the 2019/20 season having undergone knee surgery in June, and his injury problems showed no signs of subsiding this campaign after a hamstring strain saw him last just 45 minutes of the 1-1 draw with West Ham in October.

However, Guardiola confirmed that Aguero could be named among the City substitutes for their Group C clash with Marseille on Wednesday evening, though he will have to see how he trains before making a decision on his inclusion.

"We will decide tomorrow. Maybe on the bench," Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference (via Manchester City's official website). "Tomorrow we make a training session, see how his reaction in his body. Important is the last two, three days he was part of the group. His reaction and the niggles he had in the past disappeared."

Elsewhere, Guardiola confirmed he has no fresh injury concerns ahead of the clash, and despite City already having secured top spot in Group C, he has no intentions of resting key players ahead of Saturday's Manchester derby.

"Everyone is fit, tomorrow we will decide," he added. "Everyone has played a lot of minutes, like I said we will play to win the game. I don't rotate the team, I put all the players in the best condition and decide the best team for this game.

"There is not one team for one competition. The last few days except two or three players everyone was involved."

One player who has featured in every Champions League fixture this season for City is youngster Phil Foden. In comparison, the 20-year-old has started just four Premier League games this campaign, and when asked if he was better suited to the European game, Guardiola quashed such theories.

"No, he has the quality in Europe, Premier League, Carabao Cup. He played against Madrid but not Lyon [last season]. He doesn't play all the Champions League games because they're different to other ones. I don't play all the season with 11 players.

"All the season for him was top, since the first game he played so good and scored. He's young but has a specific energy and quality. Of course he has to improve the final decision in the box and be more patient but it's part of the age. His energy he'll handle in the best way. We are delighted to have him and he's an incredibly important player to have."

Despite being forced to justify his selection of Foden in certain competitions, the Manchester City boss went on to laud the youngster's development and was keen to stress his importance to the club.

"He's so good, now in the moment I see him play upfront for the dynamic, the sense of goal and the pressure," said Guardiola.

"I'm pretty sure with the age and years, when he's 24, 25, he'll be able to play more in the defensive positions. He has to understand more but it's part of the age. He can play both wingers or the striker. As a manager to have a player who can play in these positions it's fundamental."

One player who has struggled to make a significant impact on the City first team is Benjamin Mendy. The Frenchman has made just 40 Premier League appearances since his arrival in 2017, with injuries severely hampering his development.

However, the 26-year-old has already made just one appearance less than he managed in the whole of his first season with the club, and Guardiola is confident we could be about to see the best of the former Monaco man.

"He's getting better, he wasn't injured, played regularly and played well," Guardiola added. "He still didn't get the best level we know he has. When he can train regularly and doesn't stop for injury he can do what he has."