Norwich 0-3 Manchester City: Manuel Pellegrini and Alex Neil FA Cup reaction
Saturday 9 January 2016 19:01, UK
Manuel Pellegrini believes Sergio Aguero is getting back to his best after the striker inspired Manchester City to a 3-0 win over Norwich in the FA Cup.
Aguero scored a brilliant opening goal and then teed up Kelechi Iheanacho to double the advantage at Carrow Road before Kevin De Bruyne added a third late on.
The striker's season so far has been interrupted by niggling injuries, but he made his fourth consecutive start and was back on form in a superb display.
His opening goal came after a trademark weaving run, in which he ghosted past two Norwich defenders before evading Ryan Bennett's last-ditch challenge and poking home.
"When Kun continues playing games and playing more minutes, his performance always improves after he comes back from a long injury," Pellegrini said.
"Maybe in the first game back he didn't play so well. Last game against Everton he made a lot of better moments and today he continued making those moments and scored a beautiful goal.
"We know he is a top player and when he continues playing he will arrive at his normal performance."
Having cruised into the fourth round, City will now turn their attention back to the Premier League. They trail leaders Arsenal by three points.
Aguero's return to fitness and form is a timely boost for Pellegrini, who admits it is key to his side's hopes of silverware that the striker remains injury-free.
"When you have players as important as Sergio it is very important for their team-mates, for the manager, for the fans to see them playing every game because he is a player that makes a difference," Pellegrini continued.
Norwich boss Alex Neil was disappointed with his side's first-half performance, but insists he remains focused on the Premier League and securing top-flight survival.
They face Stoke City and Bournemouth away in quick succession next week, and the Canaries manager says his side will move on quickly after this defeat.
"We're disappointed with the first-half," Neil said. "I thought second half we did a bit better. We tried to push on, to put two up top and then ultimately, against better teams, you get done at the back and they scored the third goal.
"If I'm being honest, we'll forget this game as of right now because our bread and butter is the league. We need to make sure we're ready for Wednesday and Saturday, which are two crucial games for us."
