City manager Guardiola said: “I can not deny what everyone knows”.
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Sergio Aguero scored two first-half goals one from the penalty spot to lead City to a 4-1 win at Stoke, continuing the team’s impressive start to life under new coach Pep Guardiola.
City supporters at the bet365 Stadium chanted their support for goalkeeper Joe Hart and playmaker Yaya Toure, who were again both omitted by boss Pep Guardiola.
Argentine Willy Caballero has been preferred to Hart in City’s three games this season but England’s number one could yet feature in Wednesday’s Champions League playoff second leg against Steaua Bucharest.
“I think Sergio is a great striker, everyone knows that”, the UAE 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup victor was quoted by ESPN FC as saying on Tuesday ahead of their return leg UEFA Champions League second leg fixture against Steaua Bucharest at home on Wednesday”.
“But, I’m sorry guys, until a deal is complete or not complete, I will be open to answer questions about one player but until that moment he is not our player”.
Guardiola is set to make changes to his starting lineup for the game with Steaua with his side virtually guaranteed a place in the group stages following their 5-0 victory in Romania.
Hart, who was warned by England manager Sam Allardyce that he needs to be playing regular club football to keep his global place, will only consider a loan deal to enable him to assess his options in January or next summer.
“I have an excellent relationship with Joe”, said the Spaniard.
‘It’s not enough to receive the ball from his team mates, ‘ Guardiola said. I’ve said many times he’s our player.
I don’t know [if it will be Hart’s last game for City].
“And when you do overcome it, you then end up being a much better player and generally your career lasts a lot longer after getting through that period”.
“I was pretty sure we would be able to do that”.
He may also hand playing time to some of his fringe players, but it remains to be seen whether outcast goalkeeper Joe Hart will be granted a first start of the campaign. “We were clear, him with me and I with him and we spoke about our football”.
“We had 28 players in the training session”.
Kelechi Iheanacho is another City hope to put pressure on Aguero after he came off the bench to tee Nolito up for his first Premier League goal at Stoke. It’s hard for me to leave players who deserve to play out.
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On Sunday, Sunderland plays Middlesbrough and West Ham hosts Bournemouth. ‘I don’t like to play the game when people say it’s easy and it’s finished, ‘ he added.
