Sergio Aguero continues to create drama.
Today’s first act was an early afternoon bombshell from Manchester which sent shockwaves as Pep Guardiola’s teamsheet hit home.
Then, as the clock struck four, the second act followed: enter Aguero stage left to revive a ten-man City with a finish of sublime quality.
The full performance, spanning three hours, with Pep directing and Aguero as the dashing leading man, summed up our season so far with the Argentine.
It seems the days when Aguero settled in our squads and quietly went about the business of saving our Gameweeks are long gone.
Now the striker seems to insist on seeking the headlines and, just when we begin to settle on the idea of Aguero returning to his familiar groove, Pep intervenes with his own unpredictable flashes.
Some may have anticipated a benched Aguero against Burnley but I was certainly not among them.
Foolishly attempting to play “second guess Pep”, I presumed that he had earmarked the visit of the Clarets as an opportunity to ease Aguero back into goalscoring form.
Instead, according to his post-match comments, he looked to protect his striker from exertion following his unconvincing run-out at Anfield.
“He played 90 minutes after four games out and I did not consider him playing 90 minutes again after two days.”
That seems plausible but why start him on the bench rather than use him to get in front and then hook him early?
Match fitness is surely the issue, and, with a rest in the FA Cup tie next weekend on the cards, why not allow Aguero to regain that sharpness with a start?
Such questions and arguments fall on deaf ears: Pep doesn’t answer to me, other Fantasy managers and perhaps not even to the City fans. Judging by his post-match interview, he barely answers to journalists.
We know he plays by his own rules and that those rules are so often hideously difficult to decipher.
By the end of act two, Aguero had delivered. A seven point return isn’t perhaps a cause for celebration for the 135,000 who transferred him in, or indeed the 11% who gave him the armband. But it came as a huge relief given the reaction at 2pm.
However, do today’s events add to the doubts and concerns surrounding Peps approach to Aguero?
Given that City’s Champions League campaign will accelerate again in February and, by that time, they may even be cast adrift in the title race, will Pep’s attitude to Aguero’s pitch time hinder the striker’s potential further?
There is also another factor.
Gabriel Jesus is now a Manchester City player. A precocious talent, Pep has made it clear that he is about to become another option.
“Now Gabriel Jesus is coming so we will have of course three strikers who can sense a goal.”
This won’t help matters.
We had doubts already but Pep’s approach and teamsheet for Burnley’s visit to the Etihad, just day’s after losing ground following the defeat to Liverpool, has perhaps compounded matters.
Following two acts of ill-discipline, we’re not sure if we can trust Aguero. We’re also not sure if Pep can be trusted to get him on the pitch in the first place.
Aguero had the final say with another reminder of his brilliance. We know the quality he brings but are we willing to risk the hefty fee to buy into the circus that comes with it?
