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How Tottenham Combat Sergio Aguero Will Be Barometer of Their Title Chances
- Updated: October 1, 2016
Sergio Aguero. Sergio frickin’ Aguero.
Unbeknown to him, you suspect the Manchester City striker’s name was amended to include an expletive or two by Tottenham Hotspur players regularly tormented by the Argentinian in recent times.
Up until the arrivals of Erik Lamela, Federico Fazio and manager Mauricio Pochettino, the cursing may well have included references to his nationality. After the second half of his 10 goals in seven appearances against Tottenham came following the latter’s appointment, the boss himself may have taken the lead and offered a few choice Spanish suggestions of his own.
If not anger and frustration, Aguero’s often spellbinding performances seem to have prompted terror in the north Londoners. In several humiliating defeats, they certainly played like they had been shocked into a fear-induced stupor.
Then, last season, things changed.
Pochettino’s men, a year of his tutelage under their belts, were prepared for Aguero and largely shut him out in a 4-1 win. The best South American on the pitch that day was his international team-mate Lamela, the attacker in sparkling form as he put in the strongest performance of his Spurs career up until then.
Lamela made the difference again in February, setting up Christian Eriksen’s winner in a 2-1 victory that boosted the Lilywhites’ ultimately unsuccessful title challenge. Compared to his usual standards, Aguero once again was muted.
The first meeting of the new campaign between Man City and Tottenham is a clash between the Premier League’s two remaining unbeaten sides. If Spurs felt they finally got a handle on their Aguero problem last time, his form heading toward his return to White Hart Lane will have reminded them he remains a massive threat.
The 28-year-old has begun life under new boss Pep Guardiola with 11 goals in seven appearances. He might have had more by now too if he had not got himself suspended for three games for elbowing West Ham United’s Winston Reid.
Under Pep Guardiola’s tutelage, Sergio Aguero can break up the Messi-Ronaldo Ballon d’Or dominance | @sampilger https://t.co/gitKBi74ld pic.twitter.com/LCydt4L003
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) September 26, 2016
Backed by a rejuvenated Raheem Sterling and typically brilliant work from Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva (among others), Aguero is playing like a man making up for lost time after City’s disappointing final year with Manuel Pellegrini. His burgeoning working relationship with Guardiola is already earning talk of significant individual accolades for the player (see above).
Either of Spurs or Man City coming out on top will provide a big boost to their momentum heading into the international break. While the outcome will be dependent on much more than Aguero’s performance, the past encounters show he is likely to have a say one way or another.
Starting How He Means to Go On
The extraordinary thing about Aguero’s exploits is they have not come against average Tottenham teams. For instance, Arsenal great Thierry Henry scored several times against them, but, at least initially, the Gunners were facing mid-table opposition.
Aguero regularly dispatched Spurs sides competing for a place in the Champions League spots. After a short period at the turn of the decade when the two clubs were similarly positioned, he was one of the signings who took the north-west club to another level.
His third appearance for Manchester City after arriving from Atletico Madrid came away at Tottenham in August 2011. Harry Redknapp’s side were a game behind after their season opener had been postponed because of nationwide riots originating in the local area.
It …
