PEP GUARDIOLA was left disgusted after Sergio Aguero missed an atrocious Panenka penalty attempt – and put Manchester City’s title charge on hold in the process.
The Argentine club legend, 32, is set to be released at the end of this season with a host of clubs – including Chelsea and Barcelona – keen to bring him in on a free.
City are on the brink of reclaiming the Premier League title from Liverpool and have also finally made it to the Champions League final – where they will face Chelsea – in what would be a fitting swansong for the forward.
But Aguero endured a nightmare passage of play in the dress rehearsal league clash with the Blues.
Shortly before half-time, Aguero miscontrolled Gabriel Jesus’ cross with an open goal at his mercy.
Luckily for him. Raheem Sterling charged in to smash the ball home, almost off the toe of stumbling Sergio.
Aguero then had the chance to redeem himself just moments later after Billy Gilmour was adjudged to have bundled Jesus over in the box.
The Argentine confidently grabbed the ball as he looked to double his side’s lead in the third minute of just one to be added on to the first period.
Aguero bravely attempted the Panenka, but was left immediately regretting his choice.
The Etihad icon’s effort was so time, Chelsea stopper Edouard Mendy didn’t even have to move as he gratefully accepted the ball into his chest.
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Commentators around the world were left flabbergasted, with one French pundit quick to call it the ‘worst Panenka ever’.
Speaking on Sky Sports, pundit Jamie Redknapp called it a ‘Pa-stinker’ while Micah Richards revealed he was left ‘cringing’ watching it.
Redknapp added Aguero – who later apologised for the fluffed penalty on Twitter – looked like the ‘naughty boy at school’ after glancing over at a baffled Guardiola who had already turned his back in disgust.
To make matters worse, had Aguero scored he would have drawn level with Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney for most Premier League goals with a single club on 183.
It was Aguero’s first penalty miss at the Etihad since Maarten Stekelenburg prevented his effort against Everton in April 2016.
The Argentine joins Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Sterling in missing Premier League penalties for City this season alone – and was replaced by Phil Foden with 20 minutes to play.
Aguero’s misery was compounded midway through the second half after Hakim Ziyech equalised for Chelsea to put City’s title celebrations on ice.
The Blues pounced on a defensive error from Rodri, with Ziyech rifling a shot past Ederson and into the bottom corner.
Marcos Alonso then scored in the dying embers in a huge boost to Chelsea’s top-four hopes.
In between Chelsea’s two late goals, City were also denied what Guardiola believed to be a stonewall penalty after Kurt Zouma appeared to bring down Sterling.
Looking back at both incidents, Guardiola first tried to downplay Aguero’s miss, saying: “It’s his decision. The taker makes his decision.
“I always say to the players to take one decision – Panenka, right, left, short, whatever you want, but commit. He was committed.
“Everyone is disappointed but the first disappointment is him, you know that. He’s a sensible guy.
“We’re not going to talk about what Sergio has done, how he’s been for this club, for this team for all this period he has been here, so he took the decision and that’s all.
“Nobody expected it, but he took the decision – it’s right, it’s OK. If he commits, do it, so he has done.”
On not being awarded a second spot-kick late on, the City chief added: “It’s a penalty. That’s all. It’s happens, it’s football.
“We will try next time to score our penalty. That’’s all I can say. I saw on the TV it was a penalty.
“In 21 days we are going to face them again in the Champions League final.
“We will learn from that and get the points we need to be champions.”
Sterling also vented his frustration at the decision, adding: “It’s a difficult one to take.
“I couldn’t get a shot off because he put his knee on the back of my hamstring.
“I don’t know how it’s not a penalty or reviewed properly. I thought VAR was here to help.
“The referee said it had been checked and it wasn’t a penalty, but it was a sure penalty.”
While City may be frustrated, in truth it’s likely only put off their title party for another week.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
