Manchester City manager Guardiola hails four-goal hero as EPL leaders hammer Leicester 5-1
48th minute: Man City's Sergio Aguero (right) taps in his first goal of the match against Leicester City in Manchester on Saturday
Pep Guardiola hailed Sergio Aguero as an "authentic legend" of Manchester City after his four second-half goals continued the club's emphatic march towards the Premier League title with a 5-1 thrashing of Leicester on Saturday night. Raheem Sterling had given City an early lead on Saturday but Leicester went into the break on level terms thanks to Jamie Vardy's equaliser. However, Aguero took centre stage with a finishing masterclass to take his tally in City's last seven home games to 14 goals as Guardiola's side moved 16 points clear.
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77th min: Aguero chips it over the Leicester goalkeeper Schmeichel
"An authentic legend of this club," said Guardiola of his prolific Argentine striker. "In the second half he scored four goals. Sergio is like this, he has a special talent in the box. He's clinical... especially the third one and fourth one are amazing." Aguero now has 28 goals in all competitions this season — eight more than Sterling. He now trails Harry Kane by just two goals in the race for the golden boot. "So we try to create a lot of chances to score the goals he does, and he always does. Congratulations to him because it's not easy to score four goals. When one player is able to score four goals, he deserves all the credit. He fights, he plays really good, he scores."
53rd min: Aguero fires it in the near post. pics/AFP
Kevin De Bruyne's teasing low cross was turned home by Raheem Sterling for his 20th goal of the season inside three minutes, but there was a rude awakening for City's record signing Aymeric Laporte on just his second appearance for the club as Jamie Vardy skipped beyond the £57 million defender before shooting into the bottom corner.
90th min: Aguero shoots a long-ranger from outside the box
However, Leicester were powerless to stop Aguero after the break. He took advantage of two more fine De Bruyne passes and an errant clearance from Leicester 'keeper Kasper Schmeichel for his hat-trick. But the best one was when he smashed a 20-yard drive in off the underside of the bar. "Maybe the last one," said Aguero on which of the strikes was his favourite. "Because it's a long time since I scored from outside the box."
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