Sergio Aguero believes Manchester City are rightly favourites to win the
Premier League this season, but both Manchester United and Chelsea will
run them close to glory.Speaking to Italy's Gazzetta dello Sport, Aguero said the
Citizens also have a better chance in Europe this term and that a
semi-final berth should be their minimum aim in the Champions League.
The 25-year-old also expressed his regret at Roberto Mancini's
sacking, insisting that the team was always behind the Italian coach. "
"I'm convinced that we’re stronger than last year," Aguero said.
"It’s going to be a tight Premier League, but we've got a good squad
capable of winning. In fact, I would say we are better equipped than
both United and Chelsea.
"United are going to be our main rivals, even if they have changed
coach. And then there are Chelsea with Jose Mourinho returning. They've
got a good squad, but so too have Tottenham, and there's always
Liverpool."
City also have a new coach with Manuel Pellegrini picking up the
reins in the summer after Mancini was released in the wake of a 1-0
defeat to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup final.
The Italian coach was widely made the scapegoat for City's trophyless season, but Aguero says he has a lot to thank him for.
"He always treated me well, correctly and we won the Premier League
with him here for the first time in 44 years," said the Argentinean.
"It's not true that Mancini had problems in the dressing room. That was
just what the papers wrote when we weren't at our best, but it's not
true.
"I have to respect the club's decision to change coach, but my relationship with Roberto was always excellent."
Aguero is now looking to the future with City's debut in the
Champions League around the corner. They travel to face Viktoria Plzen
next week and, having failed to live up to the expectations in their
previous two European campaigns, Aguero believes they are now more
mature and ready to deliver the goods.
"The Champions League is difficult and City were not used to certain
kinds of match," he said. "There were few experienced players and we
were given tough draws. Two years ago we got Bayern Munich and Napoli,
then it was Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and Ajax last year, so at
least one finalist each year and even a semi-finalist last year too.
"This year, we've got Bayern again, but we'll fight for for our
chance with CSKA [Moscow] and Viktoria. Our aim is to come through the
group phase and then, with luck, you can reach the final or be in the
final four.
"The Champions League sometimes reserves small surprises, like
Dortmund in the final last year or Chelsea winning it in 2012. They were
good, well-organised teams, but certainly not regarded as one of the
best to begin with. Now I think there will be Barcelona reaching the
semi-finals at least, then the usual Real, Bayern, United and us."
Serie A could also have a representative or two in the last eight
with Aguero tipping both Napoli and AC Milan to go far, while he would
not rule out the threat of Juventus, who have strengthened with his
compatriot and former City team-mate Carlos Tevez.
"I’m delighted for Tevez that he's finished up in a big club like
Juventus, and he's already started winning trophies," Aguero said. "I
hope things go well for him. For me, he's a great attacker and it is an
honour for Italian football to have somebody like him. He adds quality
to Serie A."
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