Pep Guardiola says David Silva and Sergio Aguero are unique talents after the Manchester City pair celebrated major milestones in Sunday’s win at Bournemouth.
City captain Silva made his 400th appearance for the Premier League champions in the 3-1 south-coast success, while club-record scorer Aguero claimed his 400th career goal.
Former Spain midfielder Silva marked his occasion by providing two assists, the second of which led to Aguero’s landmark strike, the Argentinian’s second goal of the afternoon.
The victory returned City to winning ways after last weekend’s frustrating 2-2 draw with Tottenham, prompting manager Guardiola to pay tribute to two of his leading performers.
“What can I say, everybody knows him,” Guardiola said of 33-year-old Silva to the club website. “He has a sense, to move between the lines like nobody else in the world – he is a fighter.
“And Sergio, you know his sense of goals in the box is unique in the world.”
Kyle Walker was perhaps fortunate to remain on the field following two poor challenges on Nathan Ake which yielded a single yellow card, before Aguero slotted the visitors ahead following Kevin De Bruyne’s scuffed effort.
In-form Raheem Sterling doubled the advantage with his fifth top-flight goal of the campaign and, despite Cherries substitute Harry Wilson halving the deficit with a superb free-kick, Aguero’s 400th strike for club and country sealed the three points.
It was also a memorable day for midfielder De Bruyne, who, in inadvertent fashion, set a new record as the player to reach 50 Premier League assists in the fewest number of games.
The Belgian required just 123 outings to achieve the feat, 18 fewer than Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil.
Aguero, who has scored 235 of his 400 career goals for City, was full of praise for creative team-mates De Bruyne and Silva.
“Congratulations to Kevin. We know Kevin. He is an amazing player,” said the 31-year-old. “He and David, their assists are so good. We are happy because they play for us.”
Provided by Press Association Sport
