The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sergio Aguero

  • EPL Results: Man City, Man U, Liverpool, Chelsea win matches

    EPL Results: Man City, Man U, Liverpool, Chelsea win matches

    Man City vs Crystal Palace 5-0

    Palace held Man City out until the 44th minute before Leroy Sane broke the deadlock and a quick fire double by Raheem Sterling deflated the visitors’ initially stubborn resistance.

    Late goals by Sergio Aguero and Fabian Delph completed a 5-0 route, making it the third time City hit five or more in three successive games.

    Southampton vs Man United 0-1

    Romelu Lukaku broke the deadlock on 20 minutes, converting the rebound after Saints goalkeeper Fraser Forster parried his header from Ashley Young’s cross.

    The result maintains United’s unbeaten start to their league campaign, although they are second in the table, behind Manchester City on goal difference.

    Their latest victory was not routine as Southampton piled on the pressure in the second half, and United’s Marouane Fellaini had to clear Oriol Romeu’s header off the line

    Leicester City vs Liverpool 2-3

    Simon Mignolet saved Jamie Vardy’s penalty to clinch a thrilling 3-2 win for Liverpool at Leicester city

    The goalkeeper capped an eventful game after conceding the spot-kick having also been in the spotlight for Shinji Okazaki’s controversial strike.

    Mignolet appeared to be held by the forward when he netted just before the break after Leicester trailed to goals from Mohamed Salah and Philippe Coutinho.

    Jordan Henderson made it 3-1 before Vardy netted but he was then denied from the spot by Mignolet.

    Stoke vs Chelsea 0-4

    Blues continued to show there is life after Diego Costa with another Premier League victory at Stoke, with Alvaro Morata scoring a hat-trick in a 4-0 win.

    Morata, the club-record signing bought to replace Costa, was on the scoresheet again early on before Pedro extended the lead on the half-hour mark.

    Both goals came from defensive mistakes by Stoke, whose manager Mark Hughes had demanded a response from his players following the disappointing midweek defeat at Bristol City in the Carabao Cup. He did not get it, with Morata rounding off the win in the final quarter-hour.

  • Guardiola embargoes Iheanacho exit talks

    Guardiola embargoes Iheanacho exit talks

     

    Manchester City coach pep Guardiola has placed a 48 hours embargo on discussions bothering on the future of Nigerian international Kelechi Iheanacho.

    The former Barcelona sweat merchant who appears to be irritated by unending queries from the media over the future of the Super Eagles forward as well as that of his teammate and Argentina international Sergio Aguero, reminded new hunts that he has bared his mind on the issue at one time or the other and is not ready to talk about it again at least for now.  The most important thing according to the 46 year old coach is how to rubber-stamp Champions League qualification by closing the season with an impressive away win against Watford on Sunday.

    Aguero is seeking assurances over his future following a campaign where he has scored 31 goals but seen his status as City’s number one striker come under threat from Gabriel Jesus.

    Aguero’s dazzling display in Tuesday’s 3-1 win over West Brom, where he did not find the net himself but was heavily involved in each goal, drew warm acclaim from Guardiola, who has often tempered his praise of the Argentina star.

    Iheanacho made an impressive first-team breakthrough last season under Manuel Pellegrini but the 20-year-old has found opportunities hard to come by since Jesus’ arrival from Palmeiras in January.

    West Ham have been linked with a £20million bid for the Nigeria international but Guardiola only has eyes for Sunday’s trip to Vicarage Road, where victory will assure City of third place.

    “I spoke three days ago about the future, so I am not going to speak about the future,” the former Barcelona boss told a news conference when quizzed about Iheanacho and Aguero.

    “I know the question is going to come but forget about it.

    “The day after tomorrow we have a real final and the players have to be focused on that.”

    Only defeat, victory for Liverpool and Arsenal and a five-goal swing in favour of Arsene Wenger’s men can deny City a spot in the top four but Guardiola is taking nothing for granted on the back of three consecutive home wins.

    “It’s a crucial game, a final for us. It’s in our hands. Just look what we have to do, we have to travel to London to win the game,” he said.

    “Every game there is pressure, every game we play for everything. It does not depend on Arsenal or Liverpool, it depends on us.

    “We have had a good period. We have won three games in a row but we still have 95, 96 minutes to fight.

    “Watford have had a good season. They are safe. We have to be careful, “he warned

  • Fellaini sent off for headbutt in goalless Manchester derby

    Fellaini sent off for headbutt in goalless Manchester derby

    Marouane Fellaini was sent off for headbutting Sergio Aguero as Manchester City and Manchester United fought out an attritional goalless draw at Etihad Stadium to leave their hopes of a place in the Premier League’s top four still in the balance.

    Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will be the happier after they extended their unbeaten league run to 24 games, a feat achieved without Fellaini in the closing stages after he was dismissed for a senseless headbutt on Aguero.

    Argentine Aguero came closest for City when he hit the post early on and manager Pep Guardiola was left with an injury concern when keeper Claudio Bravo was taken off on a stretcher after injuring his calf catching a cross in the second half.

    City substitute Gabriel Jesus had a later header correctly ruled out for offside as they remain in fourth place, with United a point behind in fifth as both sides have five games remaining.

    United had 30.8 percent possession – their lowest figure in a Premier League game since Opta started recording possession in 2003-04.

    But Mourinho’s side showed all the qualities that have ensured they have remained unbeaten in the Premier League since October to battle their way to a point here.

    United spent much of the game on the back foot and almost the entire second half camped in their own territory, but showed the reserves of resilience, organisation and defiance that compensates for their current lack of stardust.

    Michael Carrick provided the solid platform and for the most part City were frustrated, with too many efforts off target or lacking the power to trouble United keeper David de Gea.

    United carried real threat in the pace of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial but their midfield lacked the guile to provide the right service.

    This result keeps United right in the hunt for the top four as they stand in fifth place, one point behind City and two points behind third-placed Liverpool with a game in hand.

    The biggest minus on their night was the crass stupidity of Fellaini, needlessly involved in the incident that saw him thrust his head into the face of Aguero.

    This was deja vu for City and Guardiola – so much possession and territory, too little end result.

    City created the best chances and effectively spent the second 45 minutes camped in United territory but as on so many occasions this season, including the FA Cup semi-final loss to Arsenal, possession and territory was not turned into scoreline supremacy.

  • Liverpool defender Klavan not afraid of Aguero

    Liverpool defender Klavan not afraid of Aguero

    Ragnar Klavan claimed he does not fear Sergio Aguero ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League clash with Manchester City.

    Aguero has been in fine form as of late, and has found the back of the net in all four of his Premier League games against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium.

    However, Klavan – who in combination with Dejan Lovren kept Aguero at bay in the reverse fixture at Anfield in December – is looking forward to going head-to-head with the former Atletico Madrid forward once more.

    “I think fearful is not the right word,” Klavan told the Liverpool Echo.

    “He is a world class striker but a lot of teams in the Premier League have world class strikers so it’s nice to play against them.

    “There is always a lot of respect for the strikers I play against but fear is not the word.

    “The game [in December] was a great game from our side. For me, the first time to play against Aguero. He is a great striker.

    “But from our side it was a really good team effort. We didn’t have so many chances in the game.

    “We scored one and we defended really well, also in the second half when there was more pressure in the game, we were defending together and that was the key.

    While Klavan has only faced Aguero and City once before, the Estonia defender has experience facing Pep Guardiola’s sides, having featured for Augsburg against Bayern Munich during his time at the Bundesliga club.

    “They always want to play really nice, attractive football,” he said of Guardiola sides.

    “It was always very clear to see when he was manager of Bayern Munich, but maybe in England it is a little bit different.

    “In Bundesliga, Bayern is the best team but in England the league is so equal, I think also in the beginning of the season you have at least six teams who can become champions so it is not so easy here.”

  • Ihenacho eyes goal against Arsenal

    Ihenacho eyes goal against Arsenal

    It will be missed feelings should Super Eagles and Man City forward Kelechi Ihenacho score in English Premier League  clash against Arsenal on Sunday at the Ethihad Stadium.

    Ihenacho, who is sure to start in the encounter as Sergio Aguero continues to serve his four game ban, was once a must sign for the Gunners who were however stopped in 2014 from realizing the dream.

    Kelechi’s agent Kennedy Ezenwere recently revealed that he blocked the move to Emirates foreseeing that the Nigerian international would have more playing time at the Ethihad than at the Emirates.

    “Arsenal were interested in Kelechi but I blocked the move. I picked Manchester City ahead of Arsenal not because of money. I know if he goes to Man City he has a better chance of playing there than Arsenal and I have been proved right,” he enthused.

    Despite the failed project the Gunners still reportedly have soft spot for him and would want to wish away his goal against them.

    Meanwhile Man City have signed Tecno Mobile as its official tablet and handset partner. Speaking at the launch City Group Chief Commercial Officer Tom Glick said “We are delighted to welcome Tecno Mobile to Manchester City’s growing repertoire of global partners.”

    Man City go into Sunday’s tie fresh from a 2-0 victory over Watford and 4-2 away loss to Leicester City.

     

  • Manchester City 1-1 Middleborough: Iheanacho in late cameo

    Manchester City 1-1 Middleborough: Iheanacho in late cameo

    Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho was a late substitute as Manchester City drew 1-1 against Middleborough at the Etihad this evening.

    The Nigerian was named among the substitutes by manager Pep Guardiola for the third consecutive match in all competitions – he was benched in the premier league games against West Bromwich Albion, Middleborough and the UEFA Champions League tie against Barcelona.

    Fortunately for the Citizens they’ve not lost any of those games in the absence of the Nigerian who last started a game in the 1-1 home draw against Everton on October 15.

    Manchester City found life very difficult against Aitor Karanka’s men as they mustered the home side’s pressure and goalkeeper Victor Valdez who coincidentally was Pep Guardiola’s first choice during their time together at Barcelona pulled out some decent stops to prevent City from running riots.

    Eventually, they had a breakthrough just before half-time as Belgian Kevin de Bruyne produced an exquisite cross from the right to find teammate Sergio Aguero and the Argentine made no mistake from six yards out.

    However, Manchester City were denied a win as De Roon headed in a perfect cross from left-back George Friend. Iheanacho was introduced as a late substitute but it was a little too late as the game finished 1-1 to the delight of the away fans.

  • Aguero out of Argentina’s Russia 2018 qualifiers

    Aguero out of Argentina’s Russia 2018 qualifiers

    Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has been ruled out of Argentina’s World Cup 2018 qualifiers with a calf injury, the country’s Football Association confirmed on Monday.

    Argentina Football Association said the 28-year-old picked up the injury during City’s 3-1 Premier League win over West Ham on Sunday.

    No timescale has been given for his return, with Aguero potentially facing FA charges for elbowing Hammers defender Winston Reid during the match.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Argentina will take on Uruguay on Friday, before facing Venezuela on Sept. 7.

    Lionel Messi has also been training with Argentina after reversing his retirement decision, which was made at the start of August.

    Argentina are currently third in the qualifying table after winning three of their six games.

  • Aguero, Bony have been helpful – Iheanacho

    Aguero, Bony have been helpful – Iheanacho

    Nigeria starlet, Kelechi Iheanacho, has revealed that Sergio Aguero and Wilfred Bony have been pushing him hard in training in order to be a great player too.

    Iheanacho, 19, scored his third goal for Manchester City on Tuesday to lift the team to the semi-finals of the League Cup and later praised his more illustrious striking rivals for guiding him, africanFootball.com reports.

    “They talk to me every day in training, giving me advice and encouraging me to keep going and doing well,” he said.

    “They tell me I will be a great player one day, so I will keep listening and working hard,” africanFootball.com quoted the youngster as saying on his team mates.

  • Yaya Toure, 22 others shortlisted for Ballon d’Or

    Yaya Toure, 22 others shortlisted for Ballon d’Or

    Manchester City midfielder, Yaya Toure, is the only African nominated for football’s top individual accolade, the 2015 FIFA Ballon d’Or.

    The Ivorian midfielder is among a 23-man shortlist released by FIFA on Tuesday, africanFootball.com reports.

    Toure is joined on the list by four time winner Lionel Messi, current holder Cristiano Ronaldo and Manchester City teammate, Sergio Aguero.

    The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Zurich, Austria on January 11, 2016.

    The Full list:

    Sergio Aguero (Argentina/Manchester City)

    Gareth Bale (Wales/Real Madrid)

    Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid)

    Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid)

    Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/VfL Wolfsburg/Manchester City)

    Eden Hazard (Belgium/Chelsea)

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden/Paris Saint-Germain)

    Andres Iniesta (Spain/FC Barcelona)

    Toni Kroos (Germany/Real Madrid)

    Robert Lewandowski (Poland/FC Bayern Munich)

    Javier Mascherano (Argentina/FC Barcelona)

    Lionel Messi (Argentina/FC Barcelona)

    Thomas Muller (Germany/FC Bayern Munich)

    Manuel Neuer (Germany/FC Bayern Munich)

    Neymar (Brazil/FC Barcelona)

    Paul Pogba (France/Juventus)

    Ivan Rakitic (Croatia/FC Barcelona)

    Arjen Robben (Netherlands/FC Bayern Munich)

    James Rodriguez (Colombia/Real Madrid)

    Alexis Sanchez (Chile/Arsenal)

    Luis Suarez (Uruguay/FC Barcelona)

    Yaya Toure (Cote d’Ivoire/Manchester City)

    Arturo Vidal (Chile/Juventus/FC Bayern Munich)

  • Messi is world’s most expensive footballer

    Messi is world’s most expensive footballer

    The International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) has published the 120 most expensive footballers in the world based on their current market values.

    In order to qualify to make the list, the footballer must be plying his trade in one of the top five leagues in Europe – Spain, England, France, Germany and Italy, sl10.ng reports.

    Regrettably, no Nigerian player was mentioned by the Switzerland – based organization, though the likes of Mikel, Onazi, Ujah, Enyeama and Ikechukwu Uche ply their trade in the prestigious championships.

    The only consolation is that Bayern Munich’s Austria international, David Alaba, who has Nigerian blood flowing in his veins, is ranked in the 56th position while England midfielder Ross Barkley is among the players in the top 40.

    Five of Mikel’s teammates at Chelsea – Eden Hazard, Diego Costa, Francesc Fàbregas, Oscar and Thibaut Courtois – were named in the top 20.

    As expected Barcelona superstar, Lionel Messi, is the most valuable player in the world followed by Real Madrid poster boy, Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Top 10 most expensive footballers:

    Lionel Messi (Barcelona): €220 million

    Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid): €133 million

    Eden Hazard (Chelsea): €99 million

    Diego Costa (Chelsea): €84 million

    Paul Pogba (Juventus): €72 million

    Sergio Agüero (Manchester City): €65 million

    Raheem Sterling (Liverpool): €63 million

    Francesc Fàbregas (Chelsea): €62 million

    Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal): €61 million

    Gareth Bale (Real Madrid): €60 million