Pep Guardiola: This is what the future holds for Aguero and Kompany at Man City

MANCHESTER CITY boss Pep Guardiola has scoffed at speculation Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany are not part of his long-term plans.

Neither player started in City’s 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Barcelona in the Champions League during the week which has cast doubt over their futures.

Belgium centre-back Kompany has struggled with injuries in recent seasons while Argentina forward Aguero has been linked with a return to La Liga.

When asked if the decision not to start with the pair at the Nou Camp was the beginning of their phasing out at the Etihad Stadium Guardiola hit back.

He said: “I am sorry, when Sergio decides to leave Manchester City, it will be his decision. I appreciate him like a football player and appreciate like a man what he did here.

“The next time before you give your opinion and you decide he is not in my plans you can call me before you write if he is in my plans or not in my plans.

“I spoke with Sergio, we talked about that, he was so understanding and helped us a lot from the bench and in the last minutes if the game was close, the last 30 or 35 minutes and their central defenders were tried, I thought Sergio could help us a lot.

“Vincent was not perfectly fit. That is why we took a decision to pick Pablo Maffeo. We appreciate him a lot. Normally Vincent Kompany would be on the bench. But he was not fit.

“With respect to Sergio Aguero, I said after the game it was a tactical decision. I wanted one midfield player more in the middle with Kevin de Bruyne, he has the qualities to hold behind the line, behind the back four and make the movements behind the full-backs.

“I think I took a decision and my plans they have futures at Man City.”

Kompany would appear the more vulnerable of the two players given the amount of time he has spent on the treatment table.

But ahead of Sunday’s lunchtime clash with Southampton, Guardiola claims he is a big fan of the City skipper.

“I would like when Vincent is fit, I have never been with him. I saw him when he is fit, he is a real central defender. I like him,” added the City boss.

“We try to take care of him. It was him, he went to the doctors and said I am not available to play. I am going to explain always what is the truth with players.

“We lost 4-0 to Barcelona. You want a guilty? I am guilty. We win? I am a genius. We win 10 games? We are going to win four titles.”

City will be without Pablo Zabaleta who sustained a knock against Barcelona while fellow right-back Bacary Sagna remains on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

“Pablo’s not injured but he’s had a terrible bang, maybe next Wednesday at Old Trafford but Southampton, no,” Guardiola added.