Manchester City fans have seen some incredible stars play at the Etihad Stadium over the last 15 years.
The Premier League giants have enjoyed unrivalled success, with the Manchester club winning every trophy possible during this time, with the Pep Guardiola era in particular being a period of complete dominance.
Although the legendary coach has been the most important figure at the Etihad Stadium over the last decade, City have had several players who have had a huge impact on English football.
Kevin De Bruyne is regarded by many as Man City’s greatest ever player, while the Belgian superstar believes David Silva deserves that title. However, Rio Ferdinand has just been praising another club legend, stating that he is one of the hardest players he faced during his career.
Rio Ferdinand working as a pundit at Aston Villa v Club Brugge.
Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images
Rio Ferdinand names Sergio Aguero as the hardest striker he has faced
Sergio Aguero had an incredible 10 years at Manchester City, with the Argentina star’s time at the Etihad Stadium cementing him as a club legend; however, the former striker is often underrated by many pundits, players, and fans.
Steven Gerrard thinks Luis Suarez was better than Aguero, while De Bruyne recently picked Erling Haaland over the Argentine.
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This has not been the case with Ferdinand, who has stated that Aguero is the hardest striker he has ever faced, which is a huge compliment given that the former Man United defender battled with the likes of Thierry Henry and Alan Shearer during his career.
“I think Aguero is one of the hardest strikers I have played against in the Premier League in my whole career. Short, small, powerful, both feet. We forget what he was like, he was devastating, so difficult to play against,” the pundit said on the latest episode of Rio Ferdinand Presents.
Aguero is undoubtedly one of the best to ever do it in the Premier League, which makes the lack of noise around the Argentina star in debates a little strange.
The Man City legend’s numbers say a lot about the former striker, and the best way to see how good the 37-year-old was is to compare him to Henry, who many regard as the greatest player to ever play in the Premier League.
Thierry Henry celebrates a goal for Arsenal.
Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images
How Sergio Aguero compares to Thierry Henry
Aguero and Henry were two totally different players, but one thing they did have in common was an eye for a goal.
The Argentine was an out-and-out striker who was lethal in the opposition’s box, where he often displayed his finishing ability, movement, and understanding of the game when linking up with teammates.
Player Games Goals Assists Trophies
Sergio Aguero 275 184 47 5
Thierry Henry 258 175 74 2
Sergio Aguero and Thierry Henry’s Premier League career stats
As for Henry, the French star was pure pace and power, whether he was used as a striker or out on the left wing. The Arsenal star was unstoppable when in full flight, and once he got into the box, it was game over for defenders.
Most people will pick Henry over Aguero when it comes to the best forwards in the history of the Premier League, which is more than justified; however, it should not be forgotten just how good the Man City legend was during his time in England.