Guardiola: Aguero a special player

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says that Sergio Aguero is a special player and he hopes the striker will stay at the club for a long time.

The Argentine’s future had been cast in doubt after he was left out of City’s 4-0 defeat at Barcelona in the Champions League.

Derbies are always special. We are going to try to play seriously and try to win the game.

Pep Guardiola

However, he was recalled by Guardiola for the weekend Premier League draw with Southampton and, speaking ahead of the Manchester derby in the EFL Cup, the City boss insisted Aguero was staying.

In a press conference before City travel to Manchester United in the cup fourth round, he said: “I am so happy with Sergio and hopefully he can stay for the long time here. I want him to stay and play with us. He’s a special player.”

City are 9/5 to beat United who are 17/10.

Wednesday’s match, for a place in the cup quarter-finals, is Guardiola’s second Manchester derby, having comprehensively won the first, in the Premier League earlier in the season.

Despite United coming into the match on the back of a 4-0 defeat at Chelsea at the weekend, Guardiola expects a tough encounter at Old Trafford.

“I always expect the best from United,” he added. “They are strong team with quality. They are six points behind – just two games.

“Derbies are always special. We are going to try to play seriously and try to win the game.”

He revealed that Kevin de Bruyne would miss the cup tie along with Pablo Zabaleta and said he expected to rotate the team, though he would look at the players in training before deciding on his starting 11.

City, who won the the trophy last season, are 11/2 to win again at Wembley early next year while United are 13/2.

Source: bet365.com