Sergio Agüero Stake Interview - April Insights & Predictions

We recently caught up with the Football Legend and Stake Ambassador Sergio Agüero ahead of the Premier League Title Race as tensions rise between the upcoming Manchester City vs Arsenal match. Aguero shared his insights and predictions, as well as discussing all things Premier League, Champions League & the upcoming 2026 International Soccer Tournament.

Check out this exclusive interview below, and get the latest soccer betting odds when you join Stake Sportsbook today.When Pep Guardiola departs from Manchester City he will leave a major void and the club should be very careful in selecting his successor. Who should replace Guardiola when the time comes for him to leave? Could it be Mikel Arteta?

When Pep leaves City, obviously he will leave a huge legacy behind, many titles, always fighting for the championship every year (except our first year in 2016-17 when we finished third). After that, he fought to win every year.

I haven’t really thought about it deeply, but today there are many good coaches. The one I like the most, because he knows the club inside out, is obviously an idol there… I think Vincent Kompany. More than anything because of how well he’s doing at Bayern, it’s a team with the same style as City. Today I can’t see anyone who looks more like Pep than him. I could say Arteta, but he’s already at Arsenal and he had Pep there, so that would be very complicated. He’s doing very well at Arsenal, but right now I think Kompany is the one.

How are you seeing the title fight in the Premier League? Do you think this week City can beat the Gunners?

Look, I think City will win against Arsenal, it’s very likely. City are favourites. In these final ten days there is a special mentality in the team since 2011-12. We won the title in the last game and in many of the last ten games of the season people and journalists were already saying we weren’t going to be champions… and then we were. From then on the mentality of the team and the club changed.

We have a very good squad with incredible players. I think City usually handle these moments very well because of the dressing-room mentality. We unconsciously don’t worry about the last ten days, we just go game by game. If City beat Arsenal they will be very close to being champions.

What’s your prediction for the Manchester City vs Arsenal game?

It’s a strange game. Both coaches know each other perfectly, they know where to attack and where the opponent is weakest. Sometimes these games have very few goals, sometimes they open up and become a great spectacle for the fans.

I think City will come out strong in the first 10-15 minutes, accelerate and take control of the ball.

It could finish 2-0 or 2-1. Hopefully City don’t suffer too much, but if it’s only a one-goal lead I think in the last minutes City will have to suffer a bit.

Do you see City winning all the remaining games until the end of the season and fighting for the title?

I think so. Knowing the club and Pep, I don’t think City will drop any points. In the head of City they know that at some point Arsenal can lose or draw, and that’s enough, as long as City win everything.

How do you explain Arsenal’s very poor record in April?

I don’t know if it’s that bad, but they are under huge pressure. They are top of the table and it’s been many years since Arsenal last won the Premier League. Every team plays against them with extra motivation, and behind them is City who never forgive.

There is a lot of anxiety and nerves. Sometimes when you want to do everything right you end up making mistakes. It’s normal, players want to do things perfectly and mentally they go faster than the game. I think it’s mostly mental. Arsenal play well; the only thing weighing on them is being at the top. Everything depends on Arteta’s experience from his time at City and the communication he can have with the players to help Arsenal become champions. They have to think game by game. Even against City, not losing is the only way I think Arsenal can win the

title.

Let’s talk a bit about Nico O’Reilly. Do you think he deserves the PFA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year as some have suggested?

It’s very strange how they choose the best young player, but yes, today he has a very good chance. I don’t know the full list of nominees, but if City win this weekend against Arsenal and then the next game, he’ll take it because the decision is being made now. He’s having a very good season.

Is Rayan Cherki already one of the best creators in the Premier League?

Obviously he’s still missing some consistency, but he’s a different player. He has impressive qualities. Hopefully he takes the next step. He plays in a very free way, without caring about anything, and that makes him different on the pitch. Knowing Pep, some of the things he does Pep probably doesn’t like… but Pep has understood that this is his natural way of playing. He doesn’t do it to show off, he does it to beat the opponent.

As a player I would tell him to be careful because there are always defenders who don’t care and will give you a strong kick. But in the meantime he enjoys it, and above all it ends up creating goals or goal-scoring chances. I love him, my son is driving me crazy asking for his shirt! The truth is he has made City a much better team.

What do you think of Abdukodir Khusanov? Is he one of the best defenders in the Premier League? What is his ceiling?

He’s fast, aggressive, I like him. But as with Cherki, you have to see how he develops over time. I always end up valuing a player by how long he maintains his level. If he keeps this level for three or four years we can already say he is one of the best defenders in the world. Today he has a lot of potential and if he stays on this road… but right now there are other defenders who maintain the same level every year.

With Khusanov behind, it makes a difference, at least what we are seeing this year.

And changing topic, what do you think of Viktor Gyökeres?

It’s normal, like everything else. I think he has talent and I hope he keeps this level.

Today there is a very high level in many teams, especially City, who always bring in players from nowhere. But hopefully Gyökeres and others continue like this for many years.

Meanwhile, Enzo Maresca is still waiting for a new job opportunity. Do you see him coming back to Chelsea or maybe taking over at Manchester United or Liverpool?

I met him because he was already with the second team when I was at City. Then he went to Chelsea. He hasn’t done anything wrong. There are times when the club has to make a decision. It all depends on the club. At some points the team wasn’t doing well but then it recovered. Other clubs don’t have that patience. I think he’s a good coach and he should be at a big club.

Speaking of Cristian Romero, it seems that this summer he might look for a new destination. Do you think he could go to Atlético Madrid or should Manchester United sign him?

I don’t know, it all depends on what he wants. It’s his decision. Atlético and United are two totally different clubs. Man United is a team that maybe plays a bit more… but today Atlético have a much better level than Man United. Historically you compare them with Man United, but right now Atlético have very good players. They don’t always have a lot of possession but the games I’ve seen, they come out playing from the back. It’s his decision where he wants to go. Sometimes the player wants to stay at the club where he is, but the idea is to keep progressing.

And in relation to the Champions League, we are already entering the most interesting phase. Who do you think will win it? Do Bayern and PSG look too strong for Real Madrid, Atlético or Barcelona?

I think PSG are doing very well. It’s not easy to be back to back champions, but today both Bayern and Paris are very strong. We’ll see what happens, but I think PSG have many chances. They play in the same way, they have very difficult players to stop, they are dangerous and today they look a bit more complete. With Luis Enrique they know exactly what they want and how they want to play. I think today we all think Paris have the best chances.

And Julián Álvarez, would he be a good signing for Barça?

Julián would be a good signing for any team today. For Barça obviously everything depends on whether he feels comfortable. There is the player side and the club side. If things go well he’ll be a champion of the Champions League one day. It’s very difficult for the player there, very complicated. But if Barça are looking at him and he is doing well, he fits perfectly. He is a player like Barça like, he loves football and has something not many strikers have: a very dedicated defensive side. Julián is a very complete player.

And Lamine Yamal, is he the best in the world?

There are many people who make different comparisons, but as a player, and based on my experience in football, he is one who is as good as the very best. Having good and bad games is normal, I want everyone to go and watch him. The movements, the passes, the dribbling, the agility he has and how he gets out of situations that look impossible… the guy who did that before was Leo Messi.

Today there is no comparison for me. Lamine is above many players. Maybe you can say Mbappé today, but we know the kind of player he is, very aggressive in 1v1, he has goals, he’s very good. But Lamine has other things that not many have. I like those short passes and those decisions… they are different. It’s very difficult to stop Lamine. As a player it’s very complicated. Beyond some games, today he is showing it. When I started watching Barça after he broke through I had no words to describe it. He has a talent that is very difficult to find. You have to enjoy him.

Neymar has also been linked with a move to Major League Soccer. Would it be attractive to see him join Messi and Suárez again at Inter Miami?

Yes, it would be very fun. It would be nice if Neymar joined Leo again, let’s hope so.

That would be great. It’s nice to have players who have won everything in previous teams and especially legends. Going to the MLS for an American audience is spectacular.

Do you think Neymar will return to European football?

Uff… I think it’s very difficult. Because of the way he plays he has to be very well physically. Obviously he can still play 15-20 minutes, but I see him more in the stage of enjoying football than thinking about giving 100% again in something that is no longer necessary. I think today he is more in the stage of wanting to be calm and enjoy, which is why he went to Santos.

And Messi, do you see him seeing out his contract until 2028 or will he retire whenever he wants?

Leo will do whatever he feels. One year he will look at the contract. If he feels good physically, he’s happy and calm, he’ll continue very calmly. Obviously, knowing Leo, he is very competitive and he hates losing. But he is in a very beautiful city, very comfortable. Many Latinos love him and he feels that affection.

I think it all depends on his physical condition. Looking at him today I think he can play calmly. If I were him I would stay here even if it’s only five minutes. But if he’s okay we’ll know in a few months. After the International Soccer Tournamnet and the MLS season he has one year left. I don’t think he’s thinking about what he will do in 2028.

In the case that he returned to Barcelona, what role could he have?

A role… I said we’re pretending that Leo is something, but it’s a role in his last game. If he goes back it’s because he grew up there, he feels love for Barça… “I’m from here and I retire here.” But I don’t know. It all depends on whether he is happy and calm there and physically he can still enjoy another year. Obviously he is excited about Barça. He will always be related to that club. I imagine his dream is to say goodbye there as he deserves. That is the dream of every Barça fan.

What is your forecast for the rest of the MLS season?

It’s very complicated. Inter have changed coach. The MLS is very strange. There are play-offs, two zones… it’s very difficult. Normally the team that is always at the top is not the champion. It’s usually the one who comes from sixth, fourth or third. It’s very random. It could be Cincinnati, New York City or Inter Miami, you never know.

And finally, the 2026 International Soccer Tournament. What are your predictions and which national teams will be the strongest?

Our heads, the Argentinians, know what we want, to go as far as possible. But I think the strong ones in the last eight or four will historically be the same as always. Maybe there will be a surprise like Morocco, but practically the same teams. Spain are very good, Argentina are very good, but being two-time world champion is not easy. Then there is France, Germany… and Brazil, many people are not talking about them but Brazil is Brazil. The rival who faces Brazil doesn’t look at the players, they look at the history. That gives Brazilians confidence.

We in Argentina had that in qualifying, from U17 to senior team we knew the group was complicated, but once in the knockouts the rival was scared because of the history. Let’s hope Argentina do well, but for me the usual teams will be fighting for the title.