Saturday 29 October 2016 19:36, UK
Pep Guardiola says he wants Sergio Aguero to realise how important he is to Manchester City after he scored twice in their 4-0 win at West Brom.
After a week in which he was linked by Spanish journalists with a move away from the Etihad, the striker's double before the break set City on their way to a first win in seven games.
Reporters had claimed Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea were all keen on Aguero but Guardiola is in no mood to let him move on.
He said: "Sergio is important for us. We don't have too many strikers. At the moment there's Kelechi (Iheanacho) - and Sergio and Kelechi is a young player and has to learn a lot.
"I would like to convince Sergio how important he is for us. We need him a lot. He knows that, the team knows that. When he shows that brilliance and belief Sergio is exceptional.
"We want to try and help him to be better and better, he is fantastic. Sergio made a really good performance, not just with the goals.
"We don't have any doubts about him and all strikers need a goal. Today he scored and it helped us to win.
"The quality of Sergio made the difference in the first half. Hopefully he can keep going with that level."
Guardiola insists he never doubted the quality of his players after the result saw City end their run of six games without a win.
Ilkay Gundogan also scored twice as they recorded a first success since they defeated Swansea on September 24.
The result meant Guardiola's team returned to the top of the Premier League once again, a goal ahead of Arsenal, as they boosted confidence ahead of Tuesday's Champions League game with Barcelona.
Asked if he was relieved, he said: "Yes, yes. All the coaches were under a lot of pressure and after six times without winning with this club, it is always tough.
"I never doubted the quality we had. Except maybe the first 45 minutes against Southampton, we were really good in the rest of the games and we were much better than our opponents.
"When you have 10 wins in a row, you have to handle that situation with calmness. When you don't win, of course you worry but you are calm as well to analyse what you have to do to improve.
"That is the target. Our job today, with social media, the millions of cameras and so on, means we will always be judged for absolutely everything.
"We have to accept that. If you are not strong enough to accept that, it is best that you go home.
"In the first half we played well with a lot of patience. We waited, we didn't push. In the second half they pushed a lot.
"If they score after 60 or 65 minutes, it is not over and the game is on. Anything can happen here in the Premier League.
"That is why I say in press conferences many times I need time to learn. It's for these kinds of things - to know my players and how they handle this kind of situation."
