Manager Manuel Pellegrini is juggling a number of injury concerns ahead of the Champions League opener at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.
Striker Aguero will not make the game after suffering a heavy kick on his knee from Crystal Palace’s Scott Dann.
Better news comes in the form of David Silva (ankle), Samir Nasri.
Fernandinho and Nasri were absent from open training on Monday morning, with Pellegrini confirming they are recovering from knocks from the weekend and that they should be fit for selection.
City’s other absentees are Fabian Delph (hamstring), Pablo Zabaleta (knee) and Gael Clichy (ankle).
Pellegrini admitted the fitness situation was not ideal but feels that given the intensity and frequency of games, injuries are inevitable.
He said: “That’s why when you have choose your squad for season it’s important to have two players for every position. We have injuries, it’s difficult with the amount of games and intensity of the Premier League not to have injuries. In this case we have a lot of problems, but I trust this squad 100 per cent.”
The manager was keen to focus minds on tomorrow’s game against Juve rather than forecast City’s ambitions for the Champions League. He was also keen to point at Juve’s qualities despite their relatively underwhelming start in Serie A.
He added: “We are not thinking where we are going to get to in this year’s Champions Leauge we are just thinking about tomorrow. We want to qualify to the last 16 and after that you must see the draw, the most important thing is tomorrow.
“I think we play against a very strong squad, that’s why they won the title four years in a row and made the final of the Champions League. Maybe they didn’t start that well but they continue to have very good players. If we want to win we must playe very well.”
Skipper Vincent Kompany has urged his side to recreate the hunger and energy that has characterised their Premier League performance so far on the European stage.
He said: “It’s about finding that confidence we have in the Premier League and bringing it into the Champions League. This season isn’t the same (as previous campaigns), if we’re not confident before tomorrow we never will be.
“In the Premier League we’re really determined and really hungry because we’re frustrated from last season. In the Champions League we’re frustrated from many seasons before. We just need to take that anger, that desire and energy into tomorrow’s game, it’s so important.”
City begin their Champions League campaign against last season’s finalist Juventus on Tue 15th Sept at 7.45pm. For a first glimpse of new signings Kevin De Bruyne and Nicolas Otamendi, make sure you’re there to support the team for what promises to be an exciting night of European football. Buy your tickets now or enjoy the game in the new 93:20 bar from £67 + VAT.
Hospitality packages also available from £130 + VAT. You can book now online, call our hospitality team on
Show your support for City U19s who also face Juventus, on the same day as the first team, in the UEFA Youth League. Kick-off is 5pm at the Academy Stadium. Tickets available now; Cityzens can redeem a free match ticket for this fixture now and non-Cityzens can purchase tickets.
