Sergio Aguero: Manchester City’s Mr. Reliable

It’s almost seven years already, yet it still feels just like yesterday. The moment is forever cast into the memory of the Manchester City faithful who were fortunate to witness that incredible last minute goal against Queens Park Rangers back in May, 2012. Astonishingly, the Sky Blues were trailing 10-man QPR 2-1 heading into injury-time on the final day of the season when Edin Dzeko equalised in the 92nd minute to give City a ray of hope of beating Manchester United to the league title on goal difference. Then, it was time for some Sergio Aguero magic.

Deep into injury-time, Aguero collected the ball from Mario Balotelli on the edge of the box, rounded QPR defender Nedum Onuoha before slamming it past Paddy Kenny to give the Cityzens their first league title in 44 years. It was not just a goal that won a title, it was the manner in which it was scored. Needing to score in the final moments of the game at the Etihad Stadium to be crowned champions, failure to get one of which Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United would have won their 20th title, Aguero latched onto the pass from Mario Balotelli when it seemed all hope was lost and fired home. What followed was utter pandemonium.

And the rest as they say, is history.

The City talisman did not stop there. His goals helped the Cityzens to another league title in 2014. And when in 2016 it seemed Pep Guardiola was not going to trust him to lead the line in a new system, he reinvented himself. It didn’t take long to win over the Catalan manager, thereby consigning Gabriel Jesus to a second choice role. And rightly so. Aguero has gone on to break the records, emerging as City’s all time top goalscorer.

When a player scores 20 or more goals in five consecutive years in the Premier League, he deserves all the praise he can get. Sergio Aguero has indeed been Man City’s Mr. Incredible. He has been there most of the time when needed to provide the finishing touch that takes the team over the line.

So he proved to be against Burnley in a difficult yet must win game at Turf Moor on Sunday. After having been denied a penalty, the team needed the help of goal line technology to confirm that Aguero’s shot had crossed the line. It’s a goal that takes us closer to retaining the title.

And if the club ever needed the 30-year-old to be at his best, it’s now. Of course, as it’s often the case in every success story there have been some low points as well. The most recent being the penalty miss against Tottenham in the Champions League. That spot kick literally cost the team progress to the semi-final of the competition. But that’s just one of a few odd times he’s been found wanting. It’s a rare occurrence.

Other than that he has been phenomenal. He is only the second player in history to score 20 times or more in the Premier League for five seasons in a row. The first player to accomplish the feat was Thierry Henry for Arsenal. The Argentine has been central to Guardiola’s accomplishment at City. He is currently gunning for the golden boot although there is strong competition coming from the Liverpool duo of Sadio Mane, and Mohamed Salah on 20 and 21 goals respectively.

Consequently, Aguero’s inclusion in the PFA Team of Year is by no means flattery. He deserves his place in the team of the year and will be crucial for us in the remaining two league games of the season, as well as in the FA Cup final. A domestic treble will be a fitting reward for his excellence and that of the team as a whole.