Manuel Pellegrini hailed Sergio Agüero as "one of the best players in the world" after the hat-trick that allowed Manchester City to come from behind to beat Bayern Munich, although qualification to the Champions League knockout stage remains out their hands before the final match at Roma.
City took the lead through Agüero’s 22nd-minute penalty after a Mehdi Benatia foul that also saw the Bayern defender sent off. When Xabi Alonso and Robert Lewandowski scored for the German champions in the space of five minutes before half-time, City were staring at a third defeat of the group phase.
Agüero, though, then beat Manuel Neuer twice more – on 85 and 90 minutes – to claim City's first victory of Group E and draw level on five points with Roma and CSKA Moscow before the final round of matches.
One of the best
Of the striker, who now has five Champions League goals this campaign and 17 in total, Pellegrini said: “I always say before this night that Sergio is one of the best players of the world. One of the best strikers. He played today very well but I think also the team played very well, especially in the second half. We trusted until the end, we worked, we pressed and finally we could make the chances for Sergio to score.”
Vincent Kompany joined his manager’s praise. “If you want to succeed at anything you need a special player in special form. Sergio Agüero is our special player and when he is in that form, he makes things achievable,” said the captain.
Agüero said: “I am very happy. It is very important for us. The draw for the group was difficult but we are happy now because this is a very important result and the next game we have to win.”
Different options
If City beat Roma in the Italian capital on 10 December they must hope that CSKA do not defeat Bayern or the Russian champions will progress. Any draw other than a goalless outcome against Roma will also take City through even if CSKA draw with Bayern – if it is 0-0 at the Stadio Olimpico then the Italian club will progress.
Pellegrini said: “There are a lot of different options. We are always feeling positive but it does not always depend on what we can do. We must try to have our chance to the end and the way to have that chance is to win at Roma. We have to do our duty. It is important. We [HAD]to play two games – we won the first one and we try to beat Roma away. It also depends on what happens with CSKA in Bayern Munich. If they win they qualify for the next round.” The Chilean was happy at how his side rallied following the break after finding themselves 2-1 behind.
“During half-time I talked with the players that we have 45 minutes more to score, because they must fight to the end because it was our last chance to continue in the Champions League,” he said. “That is why it has double merit, to beat Bayern Munich who played very well but also not to fall down on the spirit. Maybe another team [WOULD]put their hands down but I don’t think this team ever do it and we fight to the end.”
Captain’s delight
Kompany added: “It was an awkward game. They were incredibly lethal and played well with 10 men but we did what we had to do and defeated a big team today.”
The Bayern manager, Pep Guardiola, assured City his team will strive to defeat CSKA in Bavaria when they meet in a fortnight. "I think Manchester City and Roma know we are going to try and win the game. We lost but the people see we didn't come here for holidays or to have fun. We came to win the game and we were so close to doing it," said the Spanish coach.
GUA
