On this day in 2011: Sergio Aguero joins Manchester City in deal worth £35m
Sergio Aguero completed a move to Manchester City from Atletico Madrid, on this day in 2011. The Argentina international arrived at the Etihad Stadium on a five-year contract in a transfer worth £35million. The transfer went down as one of the best in the club’s history as Aguero went on to win five Premier League titles, whilst being responsible for one of the greatest moments in the club’s history. Aguero did not feature in pre-season or their Community Shield defeat to neighbours Manchester United, instead he was made to wait for his debut but made an instant impact with a brace against Swansea in a 30-minute cameo. His goals were a sign of things to come and Aguero finished his first season in the Premier League by securing City a 3-2 victory over QPR with a winner in the fourth minute of stoppage time that won them the title on the final day of the 2011-12 campaign. At the end of the following campaign, Aguero signed a new deal with City and more titles followed in 2014 and 2018 alongside three League Cup triumphs. During the 2017-18 campaign, Aguero surpassed Eric Brook’s club record of 177 goals with a strike away to Napoli in the Champions League. But injuries started to impede the Argentinian and – after more League Cup and title success – it was announced the 2020-21 season would be his last at the Etihad. Two goals on his final appearance in a 5-0 win over Everton brought Aguero’s overall tally for City up to 260, capping his City career with another Premier League crown. He was denied the perfect send off following defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League final in his last appearance before joining Barcelona. But Aguero’s career was unfortunately cut short after experiencing discomfort in his chest. Aguero tasted success on an international level after he helped Argentina to the Copa America and was recognised by City in May with his own statue outside the Etihad Stadium. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Day two of fifth Ashes Test: England in need of quick wickets Matthew Hudson-Smith insists he is fit for Budapest despite troublesome ‘niggle’ Harry Brook hails ‘decent’ first day as England look to level Ashes
2023-07-28 13:25
Third time lucky would be nice – Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell sets sights on Euro 2024
Ben Chilwell hopes next summer’s European Championship will prove third time lucky, having had to sit on his hands during the last edition before missing the World Cup through injury. Gareth Southgate is not blessed with options at left-back, but a mixture of misfortune and injury has restricted the 26-year-old to just 18 caps since making his debut in 2018. That frustration means Chilwell, a Champions League winner with Chelsea, is still waiting to make his first appearance at a major international tournament. Chilwell went to the rearranged Euros two years ago, but – as well as having to self-isolate due to coronavirus regulations – was overlooked in favour of Kieran Trippier and Luke Shaw. The pair were the left-back options again 18 months later in Qatar as a hamstring injury ruled out the Chelsea full-back, who is hoping to catch a break at Euro 2024. “I missed the World Cup, but I was at the Euros and didn’t play,” Chilwell told talkSPORT and BBC Radio 5 live. “Of course, Germany in the summer is something I am really looking forward to. “I am hoping to have a great season with Chelsea and England, that will put me in good stead, and I can hopefully go out to Germany and do well.” It has long been a case of when rather than if England’s place at Euro 2024 is rubberstamped, with their qualification campaign continuing against Ukraine in Poland this Saturday. Chilwell said “third time lucky would be nice” as he looked ahead to next summer’s finals in Germany and few would back against him fulfilling that goal given his ability to dig deep and overcome disappointment. “I think you have to be strong mentally to come through a lot of stuff that I’ve gone through and a lot of stuff that a lot of footballers go through,” the left-back, who does not have injured Shaw to compete with this month, said. “You don’t get to become a professional football player without having ups and downs, and it is a cliche but it really is about how you deal with them. “I love playing football, so that’s what I always come back to when I when I’m going through the tough times.” Chilwell is not alone in dealing with frustrating periods on the sidelines for Chelsea and England, with right-back Reece James laid low again right now with a hamstring complaint. “Everyone talks about how strong we are as a team at Chelsea when me and Reece play together,” said the 26-year-old, who is captaining the Blues in James’ absence. “Of course, we want to play more together. We’re trying! “Hopefully Reece can be back in the next few weeks and I am feeling good physically so hopefully, when Reece is back, push on and do well for the rest of the season.” The hope at Chelsea is that Mauricio Pochettino will bring improved robustness and fitness to the group on top of on-field improvements. Chilwell says the new head coach’s pre-season regime was as gruelling as people say, but it has left him feeling the “best I’ve felt physically in a long time”. “The manager was constant in telling us that this is only for our benefit,” he said. “It’s going to make our bodies more robust, we’re going to be able to play more games this season, less injuries. “So we all completely bought into it and so far, personally, I’m feeling like that is the case and, like I said, feeling the best I felt physically in a long time. “Hopefully I can stay injury-free for the season and then going into the summer as well.” Chilwell is confident that with a little patience Chelsea “will come good” under Pochettino as the former Argentina international looks to shape a large squad full of new faces and promise into a coherent, effective unit. Among the ex-Tottenham manager’s tactical tweaks in the opening weeks of the season has been a new advanced role for the 26-year-old. “It’s not even been wing-back, it’s been on the wing,” Chilwell said. “Over the past few years, I’ve gone from left-back to left wing-back to left wing… playing striker in a few years! “It’s something new (but) something that isn’t completely new to me, to be honest. “When I’ve been playing left wing-back, they’re kind of similar positions that I get in occasionally that I’ve found myself in this season. “I’m playing up there and the expectation when you’re playing in a front three is to, of course, score goals and get assists. “That’s something that hopefully I can build on in the next few weeks and decision-making, when to shoot, when to pass. “Of course, I’d like to have contributed with a few more so far this season but, like I said, I’m working hard to put that right.”
2023-09-06 23:21
Mancini set to get started with Saudi team in international friendlies
Roberto Mancini will this week start his bid to make Saudi Arabia’s national team as much of an international discussion topic as its big-spending professional league
2023-09-06 10:18
Joey Votto reveals hilarious reason for his home run trot celebration
Here's why Reds slugger Joey Votto snubbed the team's third base coach during his home run trot on Monday.Professional baseball players have feelings, too. That's what Cincinnati Reds' Joey Votto wanted to get across in a post-game interview on his first game back from injury...
2023-06-21 03:25
Man City signs Belgium winger Jérémy Doku for $70M to strengthen attacking options
Manchester City has strengthened its attacking options by signing Belgium winger Jérémy Doku from French club Rennes for 65 million euros ($70 million)
2023-08-25 01:19
Novak Djokovic wins in his return to the US Open to ensure he will regain the No. 1 ranking
Novak Djokovic has made a winning return to the U.S. Open
2023-08-29 13:20
Ryder Cup: How it's won and when
Europe and the United States will battle it out in the 44th edition of the Ryder Cup this weekend at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, the...
2023-09-28 19:55
Pollard delivers again for the Springboks to continue his comeback story at the Rugby World Cup
Nothing will quite beat Stephen Donald coming straight from fishing whitebait on the Waikato River to boot the title-winning penalty for New Zealand as its fourth-choice flyhalf in 2011
2023-10-22 06:52
Haruki Murakami pleads for keeping Tokyo park and baseball stadium that inspired his writing
Author Haruki Murakami says he's strongly opposed to the redevelopment of a Tokyo park district that would remove his favorite jogging path and tear down the baseball stadium where he was inspired to become a novelist
2023-06-26 13:17
FIFA president Gianni Infantino pleads with New Zealand fans 'to do the right thing' amid slowing Women's World Cup ticket sales
FIFA president Gianni Infantino pleaded with New Zealand fans on Wednesday "to do the right thing" amid slowing Women's World Cup ticket sales in the country.
2023-07-19 20:46
LeBron posts historic first half, questions future after Lakers eliminated
LeBron James began the final game of his 20th NBA season with the highest-scoring postseason half of his matchless NBA career
2023-05-23 13:20
Chelsea and England dealt huge Ben Chilwell injury blow
Chelsea are likely to be without Ben Chilwell until December at the earliest due to a hamstring injury picked up in their Carabao Cup win against Brighton.
2023-10-04 00:22
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