London: Pep Guardiola praised Sergio Aguero for reporting for the new season in top shape after the Argentine scored twice in Manchester City’s Community Shield win.
“We were really impressed when he arrived,” the City manager said. “Sergio always has a little bit with his physicality, maybe he needs a little bit more time to take his physical condition. But he arrived so sharp, so good.
“I think at the end of last season, the knee operation. He suffered the previous years with a little bit of a problem and Ramon Cugat, the best doctor in the world, made the perfect surgery, and now he feels free.
“I think it’s good news for us. He scored two, produced chances, he could have scored three or four or five. That is good. Him with Gabriel [Jesus], we have, in that position, good options.”
Guardiola also picked out midfielder Bernardo Silva for praise. “He played an incredible performance. He can also play right-back and sometimes the false nine. He is so intelligent, he is clever. He is a fighter, a competitor. I think he is the guy most beloved in our team and he showed me a lot of things.
“He came back earlier [after World Cup duty] and that showed me again a lot of things and that’s one of the reasons we won.”
On the significance of beating Chelsea to win the Community Shield, Guardiola said: “It’s a minor title. Everybody is going for the Premier League, the FA Cup or the Champions League. But to play for this title you have to win the -Premier League or the FA Cup, so to play this competition is not easy.
“Once we are there we just try to be serious, to play strong in the head. We did it and that is why we are satisfied. We are still far away from the physical condition we want. The players are in bad, bad condition and, hopefully, we can increase our level.”
