Man City vs Chelsea: With Pep Guardiola’s tough love, Sergio Aguero continues to surpass his peak

The best striker in the Premier League, at 30 years old, simply continues to get better

Sergio Aguero lingered at the back post and waited for Bernardo Silva to waltz his way through Chelsea’s defence. Just eight minutes into the match, four yards from goal, with the Blues still reeling from Raheem Sterling’s early sucker punch, the Argentine only had to outstretch a toe to add City’s second and equal Eric Brook’s goalscoring record.

But to the Etihad’s silent disbelief, somehow Aguero miscued into the side netting, admitting himself after the match how baffled he was by his own mistake. It could have stifled another side’s momentum, ruined a lesser player’s confidence, but Pep Guardiola‘s newly-rejuvenated juggernaut has regained something predatory.

Five minutes later, muted mouths were left-wide jawed when Aguero hounded after the loose ball on the edge of Chelsea’s box and with just one touch swivelled between two defenders, forged a fraction of space, rolled the shoulder and curled with unstoppable pace and precision into Kepa Arrizabalaga’s top corner.

It was the type of finish taken from a Thierry Henry showreel. The Argentine’s 222nd goal in eight seasons in Manchester, struck with as much conviction as any that came before.

Chelsea had barely taken a breath when City went ahead. By the time Aguero had completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot, the wind had long been beaten out of Maurizio Sarri’s side.

And although City thoroughly outclassed a Chelsea side void of impetus or organisation in every position, it was Aguero who continues to thrive under the weight of expectancy and aboard the ride of Guardiola’s tough-love tactics.

In a steadily evolving side, where David Silva’s influence has waned, Vincent Kompany’s might is largely played out via morale and even Kevin De Bruyne’s role has receded, the 30-year-old is amidst a renaissance – or has perhaps even beyond – his peak.

Granted, it was not a single-man show. Raheem Sterling, playing one of his best game’s in a light blue shirt, was too quick to be caught. Bernardo Silva too skilled and slippery to pin down. They pulled apart Chelsea’s ramshackle defence, ripped gaps for Aguero to tear into, and awaited destruction to commence.

That’s nine goals in his last six matches, a second hat-trick in consecutive home games, and still Aguero promises more. His potential has no bounds, at 30 years old, you wonder if his peak can be pushed even further.

Sergio Aguero completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot (Getty) (Getty Images)

And that has to be credited to Guardiola’s do-or-die demeanour. When Gabriel Jesus was brought into the club as the manager’s new pet prodigy, Aguero’s career – and contract- was put on countdown.

Remarkably, the best striker in the Premier League was being pushed to fight for his place, and at times lost it. Guardiola stirred angst in Aguero, a player who would in any other team be allowed to coast, knowing he could exact more.

And in having to fight, the beauty in Aguero not only comes in his great goalscoring but how the Argentinian is able to cast an influence over the entire pitch, dictate the match even from the front. He is not just a pretty striker, he can get ugly.

The long-rush back to his own box to dispossess Pedro on the stroke of half-time, just as Chelsea began to mount a flicker of momentum. The cunning to win the foul and slow the tempo when the Aguero of old might have just idled on the halfway line and waited for the game to come to him.

Guardiola has tapped into a fire within Aguero that perhaps even the player didn’t know existed. And, in turn, the greatest testament to Aguero’s timelessness is how he answered back, pushing himself harder than ever, proving point after point to a manager who made him question himself.

And so the best striker in the Premier League simply continues to get better.