Aguero out to reclaim title
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Sergio Aguero is determined to put Manchester City back on top next season. The best City can hope for this term is a distant second-place finish to Chelsea after surrendering the English Premier League crown they won last year.
Manuel Pellegrini's men are at least threatening to end a disappointing campaign strongly after securing a fourth successive win with a 6-0 demolition of relegated Queens Park Rangers on Sunday. The prolific Aguero struck a hat-trick in that rout to take his goal tally for the season to a superb 31 from 40 appearances and he wants to carry forward the momentum.
The Argentinian said: "We lost a lot of points this season and now we are in good form, hang won four games in a row, so we must continue like this for the two remaining games. "We want to finish the best we can and start next season fighting for every title. This season wasn't as we expected but we will face new challenges next season and there is always revenge in football."
There has been plenty of speculation about possible changes at the Etihad Stadium this summer, with rumours of a squad clear-out and some uncertainty over Pellegrini's future as manager. Aguero - who is highly unlikely to be part of any such changes as the club's most prized asset - is not concerning himself with those matters and focusing only on success. The 26-year-old said: "The club will decide what players they bring in but our mind has to be the same and go for the title from the beginning."
"This season wasn't as we expected but we will face new challenges next season and there is always revenge in football."
Sergio Aguero looks towards next season
Aguero looked sharp from the outset against doomed QPR, scoring the opener after just four minutes with a cool chip over Rob Green from close range. He added his second early in the second half after being given a free run at goal and struck his third from the penalty spot.
City's other goals came from an Aleksandar Kolarov free-kick, an Aguero-assisted James Milner tap-in and a sure-footed David Silva effort. Aguero is also now well on course to finish as the Premier League's top scorer having moved on to 25, five ahead of Tottenham's Harry Kane.
City are now mathematically assured of a top-four place but there is still a challenge for them this season in not only trying to avoid the UEFA Champions League play-off round but to claim second place. Arsenal and Manchester United are the other sides in the top-four equation and Aguero puts beating them ahead of personal accolades.
He said: "I'm happy with my hat-trick and now we have two games left so hopefully I can win the award, but the most important thing is to qualify (outright) for the Champions League. To be second or third is the same in terms of Champions League qualification but we would like to finish second because we always want to finish as high as we can in the table."