Soccer:Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has denied claims he mocked a Villarreal player after his dramatic late winner against the Spanish side last night. Aguero struck in the third minute of injury time as City snatched a 2-1 win in their Champions League Group A encounter at the Etihad Stadium.
Villarreal vice-president Jose Manuel Llaneza and defender Carlos Marchena have been quoted in the Spanish media criticising Aguero’s conduct, but the Argentinian denied any wrongdoing via his Twitter account.
Aguero, 23, wrote: “I have no interest in getting involved in controversies, but I have to deny having mocked a Villarreal player. Everyone can attest to my discipline and professionalism, I wouldn’t do something like that.”
Emotions ran high at the end of the game as several Villarreal players confronted the officials. Coach Juan Carlos Garrido said his players at the time thought Aguero had been in an offside position.
Garrido conceded Aguero had been onside and the players “must accept” the decision but the goalscorer’s actions still caused irritation for some. Llaneza told Spanish media: “What he has done doesn’t say much about the guy. It seems to me a lack of respect, ethics and team spirit. I thought he had learned better.
“I don’t understand why he would mock fellow players for losing. I’m not saying it because of the result. We lost and we lost, and that’s it. This is to do with what Aguero has done. He is a player who should give a lot of thanks to Spain.
Aguero, City’s club record summer signing, is well known to Spanish audiences after five years with Atletico Madrid. Marchena, who scored an own goal to equalise for City, said: “In football you have to have class, especially in times like this. What Aguero did is not acceptable. These situations are a shame and are a mark of the man who does it.”
Aguero had been making his return to action after a groin injury and appeared as a 62nd-minute substitute. City fell behind to a Cani goal in the fourth minute but pulled level when Marchena diverted the ball into his own net late in the first half.
