 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Hero Aguero repays huge fee with title clincher
Sergio Aguero was as good as his word on Sunday when he scored the stoppage-time winner against Queens Park Rangers that sealed Manchester City's first title for 44 years.
-PHOTOS: Key moments in Manchester City's Premier League title triumph
The Argentine, signed for a reported 45 million euros from Atletico Madrid, vowed at the time he would 'fight to the death' to bring the glory days back to City and with 60 seconds of stoppage time left at the Etihad and the score 2-2 he delivered.
Speeding into the area he was as cool as a cucumber to smash the ball past QPR keeper Paddy Kenny before celebrating by whipping off his blue shirt and waving it above his head and then being buried under a pile of his team mates.
It was his 23rd league goal of an impressive first season in English football and by far the most priceless.
'We made the most of the stoppage time'
"I'm really really happy," Aguero, husband to one of Diego Maradona's daughters, said on the pitch as ecstatic fans chanted his name inside the stadium following the 3-2 win that nicked City the title on goal difference from Manchester United.
-EPL: Manchester City clinch title in dramatic finale to season
"We can hardly believe it ourselves. We thought the Premier league had gone but thank God it worked out for us.
"We scored twice in the final five minutes. It's absolutely unbelievable.
"It was getting very complicated and difficult for us but we made the most of that five minutes (of stoppage time)."
'Let's hope this is the first of many titles'
With former crowd favourite and fellow Argentine Carlos Tevez having fallen out of favour with the club's fans following his public spat with coach Roberto Mancini after refusing to warm up in a Champions League tie in September, Aguero has become the new darling of the Etihad faithful.
"They've treated me very well from the moment I arrived," he said. "Let's hope this is the first of many titles.
"My personal objective is to keep improving as a player and win more trophies. This has given me even more confidence."
Pablo Zabaleta, Aguero's countryman who gave City a halftime lead before things got sticky in the second half, said the striker's impact had been crucial this season.
"He makes all the difference," he said. "He is an unbelievable player and he always appears in the best moments."
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.