An emotional Pep Guardiola claimed Manchester City 'cannot replace' Sergio Aguero after their all-time top scorer played his final Premier League game for the club.
The Argentine, who will leave City after 10 years in the summer when his contract ends, signed off in style with two goals in a 5-0 victory over Everton as he lifted his fifth Premier League trophy.
Aguero's 260 goals for City make him by far and away their leading scorer and despite allowing him to move on, Guardiola said his qualities as a player and person will be impossible to replicate in the future.
When asked about Aguero, the teary Spaniard told Sky Sports: 'We love him so much. He is a special person for all of us. He is so nice, he is so nice. He helped me a lot, he’s so good.
'We cannot replace him. We cannot.
'They are many players we have had to discard like him, Joe Hart and David Silva, who have helped us this club to be what it is.
'He came on today showed his quality for 30 minutes.
Following the emotional interview, pundits Micah Richards and Jamie Redknapp said it shows how much Guardiola cares about his players while hailing Aguero's two-goal display as the perfect send-off.
'People question Pep’s sentiment at times, but there’s all the sentiment you need what you’ve just seen there,' Richards said.
Redknapp was of similar feeling, adding 'He cares. You can see he cares about his players and you don’t create an atmosphere and an environment at a football club unless you care about your players and that’s why they love,
'They’ll run through brick walls for him.
'He’s been an absolute legend Sergio Aguero. I’m so pleased he’s gone out the way he has today.'
While it is City's fifth Premier League title, it was Guardiola's third in five seasons at the club in what was arguably his most impressive after a slow start to the season.
The 50-year-old signed a new two-year deal with the club in November at a time that coincided with City's return to form and a game winning streak between December and March.
When asked if his new deal helped settle his players and inspire them to the title, Guardiola said: 'I don’t know how the players felt but if they know there is stability for the next few years and it will be the same, maybe it helped.
'Maybe we showed that the next season we are the same people, we are working together.
'They realise that with this f***ing manager we will stay the next year and that is why they thought "ok, keep running, keep fighting".
OjilYouzif
904
we shall miss a lot
Mahmudur_Somoy
609
That show's how much he cares about his teams player.. He is clearly in tears.
deburyne
540
not only man city legend but also premier league legend also,this man brings consistency to their team he never did anything unwantedly bye bye Legend
Sulthan07
495
Ten years ago aguero played his 1st game in England and scared 2 goals and today he played his last game in England and also scored 2 goals . What a sync ! Thanks for the things and memories you have done for man city
ishti
440
This pic 💙💙💙💙
AbenNyeal3
350
An IMMORTAL HERO of CITY now a CATALAN
Brett-Clement
329
I was holding it together fairly well until that interview, then the floodgates opened 😭
Brightberry
317
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES 💙💙
Uglyjay
270
well done sergio, the Goat awaits your arrival
DanteZLfc
254
good bye legend
RapLovish
160
Aguero is a living legend 🥺👑
Ngpksster
9
we shall miss a lot
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As a Liverpool fan, it has become hard for me to see him leave EPL. So, I can’t even describe how City fans are feeling now. He was a gem for EPL. Agueroooooooooooooo
Liycklru
9
Yes yes, he should wipe his tears off with some Dirham
Ppl like you don’t have any sentiments for football. Go away
nudklmptz
8
That show's how much he cares about his teams player.. He is clearly in tears.
[image]
crocodile tears like he really likes him they are like cat and dog
Fifbro11
8
Ten years ago aguero played his 1st game in England and scared 2 goals and today he played his last game in England and also scored 2 goals . What a sync ! Thanks for the things and memories you have done for man city
[image]
And in both matches he came on as a sub in 60th minute