Sergio Agüero Stake Interview - Exclusive Football Insights

We caught up with Stake Ambassador Sergio Agüero, ahead of the upcoming Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga season to discuss all his exclusive insights and predictions.

Check out our exclusive interview below, and get the latest soccer betting odds when you join Stake Sportsbook.

You experienced a change of managers twice at Manchester City. With Maresca taking over from Pep Guardiola this summer, how difficult is it for players to adapt to the new styles of play and coaching that the new manager will bring in?

Whenever such a long and successful cycle comes to an end and a new process begins, you have to give the new manager time to adapt to the club and the squad, and also give the club and the players time to adapt to him. In that sense, one thing that works in his favour is that Maresca has already been at the club and knows City very well and understands the importance the club has gained worldwide. Also, Maresca’s style is similar to Pep’s, although of course they each have their own style and personality. You also have to take into account that the squad itself is going through a period of change. It will take some time, but I’m confident things will go well. Great players, and City have them, can adapt to a new manager without any problems.

Erling Haaland has now gone 11 consecutive finals for Manchester City without scoring. As a former City striker, do you think that record says anything about Haaland in the biggest matches, or is a striker ultimately dependent on the chances his team creates for him?

I don’t think that statistic tells you very much when it comes to judging the quality of a player. It also depends on whether the team wins those games or not. If the team wins, it doesn’t matter whether one particular player scored or another one did. Haaland is a great goalscorer. I don’t need to be the one to say it. His numbers speak for themselves.

Your thoughts on the Arsenal game and whether City fans should be worried?

I’m sure they won’t have liked it, but I don’t think it’s something to be worried about. It was the first game of the season, even if there was a trophy at stake, with a change of manager and new players. As I said, you have to give the team time to find its rhythm and I think they’ll get there sooner rather than later.

Manchester City

Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Nathan Ake and John Stones have all left, all treble winners, will this new team be completely different?

The squad had already been going through a transition and now that process has gone a little further. The players who are no longer there have been very important in City’s recent history. But the players who have arrived, Cherki for example, and those who are arriving, like Anderson and Bouaddi, are top-level players who can fit perfectly into the club’s identity. And we shouldn’t forget players like Phil Foden, who despite still being young has already had a very significant career at City and has a lot of experience. I think he can become one of the leaders of the team going forward.

Could you imagine Erling Haaland looking to leave Man City for the likes of PSG, Bayern, Real Madrid or Barcelona, because of how ambitious and determined he is to win multiple trophies?

What I can imagine is him staying at City for many years and scoring a lot of goals for the club. He’s one of the key figures in the team and, as far as I understand, he has a long-term contract with the club. In football you can never know what will happen with a player, but I like to imagine him staying at City for many years.

People are comparing Enzo Maresca to when David Moyes took over from Sir Alex Ferguson, is that fair?

I don’t know which people you’re referring to. I’m not a big fan of comparisons. The only thing I see they have in common is that both arrived at their clubs to replace managers who had been there for many years and achieved great success. But they are very different situations. As I said, for example, Maresca has already been at the club. It’s true that he was in a different role, but that allows him to understand City’s spirit and what the fans expect from the club. And that’s a considerable advantage.

Are you excited by the prospect of a midfield duo of Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi?

I really like both of them. Anderson had an excellent season last year, which also earned him a starting place for England during the World Cup. He’s very dynamic, a box-to-box midfielder who can shoot, get forward and create chances. He can be very important for the team. The same goes for Bouaddi. He performed at a very high level at the World Cup. Despite his age, he showed incredible maturity when playing out from the back. He has all the qualities to be a great replacement for Rodri, who was always vital for City.

There’s a chance Man City buy Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea, would he improve the side?

I honestly don’t know whether there’s a chance of that happening or not. What I do know is that he’s a tremendous footballer who would fit very well at City. He’s an all-round player who can play in many different positions and always brings quality.

Enzo Fernandez was booed by sections of the Chelsea home crowd in their final pre-season game against Real Sociedad, do you feel sympathy for him?

Enzo is a great person. I don’t think different things should be mixed together. As players, we’re always subject to the opinions of the fans and that’s part of the game. But it should always be about a player’s performances on the pitch and his commitment to the shirt. Not about anything else.

Premier League

Arsenal look even stronger than last season, do you think it will be hard for anyone to get close to them this season?

Arsenal were deserved champions and they’ve been doing a very good job with Arteta for several years now. Season after season they’ve brought in players who have strengthened what was a very young team and which now also has the experience needed to keep fighting for more trophies. And they’ve strengthened very well again. I think they’ll be the team to beat for everyone else. They have continued with a very clear playing philosophy and improved the areas where they needed to improve with their new signings. You also have to bear in mind that most of the usual contenders are starting new projects: Chelsea with Xabi Alonso, City with Maresca, Liverpool with Iraola, Tottenham with De Zerbi and United with Carrick. Some of them have been there a little longer, but they’re still basically rebuilding their teams.

If it’s not Man City, who will be Arsenal’s closest competitors for the Premier League?

Why not City? Of course they’ll be in the fight. The contenders are the teams I mentioned before. I’d also add Aston Villa, who have been doing a great job with Emery. This is a season with a lot of changes at the big clubs. We’ll have to see which one adapts the quickest and finds the consistency you need to stay in the title race until the end.

How great of a signing is Bruno Guimaraes for the Gunners?

He’s an example of what I was saying before. Arsenal already have a very good midfield and now they’re adding Bruno Guimaraes, who has done a great job at Newcastle. He’s a player who gives Arteta even more options.

Liverpool are yet to see a fully fit Alexander Isak play for them, do you think he’ll be back to his best this season, and can he lead them far into the competitions they’re competing for?

He’s a great goalscorer and, after the injuries he suffered last season, he has been able to show that goalscoring instinct that he had at Real Sociedad.

What are your thoughts on Rio Ngumoha? Can he be the next star of the Premier League?

I know he made his debut at a very young age and that it hasn’t fazed him. He’s a boy from the club and you can see that he has a real sense of belonging at United, and that can work in his favour. He has his whole career ahead of him and he’ll have to keep showing his development game by game.

Man United have recruited Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans to their midfield, are they good enough to help them compete for any trophies?

They can be important additions in that area of the pitch. Although their characteristics are different from Casemiro’s, they’re both very good on the ball. Tielemans has been a key player for Villa in recent years and also for the Belgian national team. Andrey Santos has less experience but has similar characteristics to the Belgian. They could complement Bruno Fernandes very well in midfield.

Marcus Rashford seems to be staying at the club - are you surprised Barcelona didn’t buy him? And can you see him making a comeback at his boyhood club?

He’s a boy from the club. He came through at United and has given them some great performances. I don’t see why he can’t get back to performing at that level again. In fact, he was at the World Cup with his national team and did very well.

Chelsea have signed Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson to bring experience into a very young team, do you think that’s what they needed?

I don’t know what Xabi Alonso is thinking, but that’s probably the reason. They’re players with proven careers in the Premier League and they can provide that experience and leadership that a team with ambitions always needs.

Are Chelsea a dark horse for the Premier League because they’re not in Europe?

They’ll be playing in fewer competitions and that will work in their favour in the Premier League. There will be less physical strain and fewer rotations. At the same time, it’s also true that new projects need a lot of playing time to become established, and in that sense they’ll have fewer opportunities. But as I said, having fewer games will ultimately be an advantage, especially in the final part of the season when the league is decided.

Should Chelsea, Man United or Tottenham try to sign Victor Osimhen? Does he seem built to play in the Premier League?

I honestly don’t know. He’s a very good striker and I think he could play in the Premier League without any problems.

Europe

Barcelona are on the verge of announcing Rodri - could he, Pedri and Frenkie De Jong eclipse the legendary trio of Andres Iniesta, Xavi and Sergio Busquets?

That midfield was exceptional, one of the best, and together with Messi they achieved incredible things and formed one of the greatest teams in history. There’s no doubt that Rodri’s arrival at Barça would complete one of the strongest midfields in Europe this season. He fits Flick’s style of play perfectly and makes them stronger. We’ll have to see how it develops over the years. Because, as I said, I’m not a fan of comparisons. They’re different eras and different teams, so I don’t think you can really talk about whether one trio eclipses another.

How important is it for Kylian Mbappe to lead Real Madrid to some silverware this season, considering he’s only won one trophy since joining the club?

I think it’s more important to talk about what Mbappé can bring to this new Madrid team to help them win trophies. Because it’s not about individual achievements or what one player can do on his own. The club always comes first. And it’s more than clear what Mbappé can contribute. He’s been showing it for a long time and he made it clear again at the World Cup, where he was the top scorer.

Harry Kane is reportedly extending his contract at Bayern Munich, do you think he can win the Ballon d’Or playing for them?

What a goalscorer Kane is! I don’t see why he couldn’t win it. He had an exceptional last season. Of course, everything will depend on what other players do as well. There are several players in contention for the Ballon d’Or. It’ll be a great competition.

OTHER

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have both made comments about retirement, can you see them both retiring in 2027?

I read that Cristiano said this might be his last season. And what can I say about Leo that I haven’t already said many times before? I’ve always said that Leo earned the right a long time ago to decide when he wants to retire, and I think the same applies to Cristiano.

Would you like to see Neymar make a move back to European football, as one last dance competing on the biggest stages of football?

Ney is another player who deserves to choose where he wants to play. He’s a great person and a great footballer and, despite the physical problems he’s had in recent years, he continues to play with the same passion he’s always had. Wherever he chooses to play will be the right place for him.

Endrick has been linked to Man United and Aston Villa in recent weeks, could you see him doing well in the Premier League?

I haven’t read anything about that. From what I’ve seen, Madrid are counting on him for this season.

Does Endrick remind you of yourself when you were young?

We have a similar build and there are some similarities in the way we play. He’s powerful, quick and has great acceleration. But he’s young and has his whole career ahead of him to keep developing and refining the things he needs to improve in order to stay at the highest level.