Messi or Agüero: Guardiola clarifies comparison after hat-trick
Following Manchester City's drubbing of Aston Villa, the former Barça coach was asked about two of his most prolific goalscorers.
After a thumping 1-6 win at struggling Aston Villa, Pep Guardiola was asked whether Kun Agüero - who had just scored his 12th Premier League hat-trick - was the best striker he'd managed. It turns out he isn't.
'Messi is the best'
Another Premier League victory under the belt for Manchester City, one that moved them into second place in the table, and aided their goal difference to the tune of plus five. Two goals from Mahrez, one from Gabriel Jesús and three from Agüero saw off the challenge of the relagation-threatened side.
And in the post-match press conference, Guardiola was asked if the record-breaking hat-trick man was the best striker he'd ever managed.
"The best is Messi," came the simple response.
The journalist wanted to clarify his question, asking whether the Man City forward was the best 'out and out 'number 9'. That didn't change the answer.
"Messi is number 9, number 10, number 11, number 7, number 6, number 5, number 4...
"But Sergio [Agüero], [out of] the rest, is absolutely one of them."