Hitmen set to clash for the first time.
Manuel Pellegrini knows enough about the threat Diego Costa will pose today from his days managing in Spain.
But the Manchester City boss believes he has a weapon just as deadly and one capable of becoming the world’s best player.
Sergio Aguero made the same journey as Costa from Atletico Madrid to the Premier League three years ago. In that time, the Argentinian’s 55 goals in 91 games have brought City two titles and the Capital One Cup.
“Aguero is among the best players in the world,” says Pellegrini.
“And I think that now it is up to him to fight for the Ballon d’Or, because he has all the qualities you can ask of a football player. I think you saw the best of him last season, especially in the first four months.
“He then had so many injuries afterwards it was impossible for him to do it. But he won the title the year before and scored a lot of important goals for City.
“We know about what he did in Spain for a lot of years with Atletico Madrid. But the player is only 26 years old and he can continue improving. I am sure he will do that because every game he plays he gets more experience.
“If he is to win the Ballon d’Or, first of all he has to be 100% fit and he is just now. Then he has to make a difference like he did last year and the year when the club won the title.”
Pellegrini, whose relationship with Jose Mourinho has always been strained, concedes that the Portuguese’s team are a major title rival but not the only one.
“Of course they will be an important rival because he has a very good squad and brought in a lot of important players,” says the Chilean. “But we have only played four games and we have another 34 to finish.
“I’m absolutely sure after what happened last year that Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United will also be in the fight for the title.
“This summer all the teams spent money. We spent money too, but we have the restrictions (imposed by UEFA). I don’t, however, use that an excuse when we don’t win.
“I really do not understand what ‘financial fair play’ is. For me it is impossible. This is a club that does not have a debt of one pound to anyone.”
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