Pep Guardiola hopes Sergio Aguero has avoided serious injury after the Premier League’s top scorer asked to be withdrawn in Manchester City’s 2-0 win at Fulham.
Aguero fired his 19th league goal of the campaign as City leapfrogged Liverpool and back to the top of the table with a facile victory at Craven Cottage.
Bernardo Silva stroked home City’s opener before laying on Aguero’s goal, with the visitors in total control inside half an hour.
PEP 💬 "@aguerosergiokun said he felt something – not an injury. We we will know tomorrow.— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 30, 2019
Aguero was withdrawn before the hour as City coasted through the second half, leaving manager Guardiola to downplay any injury issues around the Argentina hitman.
“He says he felt something, but hopefully he’s not injured,” said Guardiola.
“He decided on not continuing. Hopefully it will not be a big issue.
“We’ll see tomorrow, maybe the day after tomorrow.”
City made it 11 wins in 12 in all competitions with their comfortable victory in south west London, where hosts Fulham failed to register a single shot on target.
Guardiola’s men strolled home in the spring sunshine, but the Spaniard knows full well tougher challenges await in the final push towards another title.
City are still in the hunt for an unprecedented quadruple, but on the league front, Guardiola believes only seven wins from their final seven matches will be enough to pip Liverpool to the title.
“Seven games left for the Premier League, and it’s easy: we have to win every game to be champions,” said Guardiola.
“We have a tough, tough opponent. But that’s the challenge.
“It was a tricky game for us after the international break.
“But the way we started was amazing, the players surprised me again.
“And we showed how focused we are to try to do our best.
“After that the game was a bit more controlled. The game was under control, that is the truth.
“After the international break, people were tired, so I’m pretty sure in the next game our players will be a bit better. So we’re just focusing on Cardiff now.”
Caretaker manager Scott Parker admitted Fulham’s battle against relegation is almost at an end, with the Whites potentially seeing that demotion confirmed at Watford on Tuesday night.
Parker insisted Fulham’s challenge now is to restore some credibility between now and the end of the season.
“The lads showed some bravery with what they did out there today,” said Parker.
“It would be quite easy to go and hide against a world-class team like that, but we didn’t.
3 points! Next one on Wednesday!Come on @ManCity 🔵🔵 pic.twitter.com/JjkC6u3iOk— Bernardo Silva (@BernardoCSilva) March 30, 2019
“I’m not thinking about myself, I’m thinking about getting some results and some credibility really.
“While it’s still mathematically possible we won’t give up, but I’m a realist and we all understand the predicament ahead.
“It’s a tough ask of course, but the main thing now is to push and end the season on a positive.”
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