Pep Guardiola explains what he wants from Aguero

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has outlined exactly what he wants to see from Sergio Aguero after once again insisting he “can do better”.

Guardiola told the press after Aguero’s double at Stoke City in August that he has asked the striker to do more when he does not have the ball.

The City boss and his staff identified this area of the Argentine’s game for improvement before they officially took up residence at the Etihad Stadium.

Aguero has scored nine goals in five matches so far this season and will return to the City line-up against Swansea City on Saturday after serving a three-match domestic ban.

Guardiola says he is pleased with the striker, but was did not hesitate to point out that he expects much more.

“Of course a striker has to score goals I’m so happy, and with Kelechi [Iheanacho] as well,” he told reporters. “But from all the players I want more. I want more. I’m so happy, with Sergio, so so happy, but I want more, I want more. He can do better. He can do better.”

Guardiola also took the time to explain exactly what he wants from Aguero in terms of his defensive contribution, adding: “I don’t want Sergio running too much without the ball. I don’t want him running 40 metres without the ball. I try to convince them, what they have to do - four, five, six seconds of effort - he can do that. He can do that. But we can support him, like our strikers with the people from behind to make that pressure to make.

“Always the word pressure, high-pressing, these kind of things, the real word I like to use with my players and the people is win the ball. We go there to win the ball. That’s where we go to make the pressure. But we prefer to have the ball. 

“We believe that if we have the ball we can create more chances and that is the reason why. When I see one player that doesn’t go to the press, what I feel is that they don’t want to play. They don’t want the ball. They prefer the ball for the opponent, I don’t like that. I like the ball in our possession and after that to try to create as much as possible. 

“When you have the ball the opponent has few opportunities to create chances. Of course without the ball they use the counter-attack - here there are so many teams that are so good - like United, like Liverpool, like Leicester, like Chelsea with [Eden] Hazard and Willian - many many teams - Everton as well. 

“The last game against Bournemouth when we lose the ball [Joshua] King created a lot of problems behind Bacary so that’s going to happen but the first idea is to try to have the ball and when we don’t have the ball we try to press to win again as soon as possible.”