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Aguero keeping a close eye on Man City's potential Champions League opponents

Aguero keeping a close eye on Man City's potential Champions League opponentsThe Argentina striker says he will watch Wednesday's quarter-final clashes with interest after helping the Blues make it to the final four for the first time in their history
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will be glued to his television on Wednesday night as he waits to see whether his former club Atletico Madrid can join the Blues in the Champions League semi-finals.

City beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium to seal their place in the competition's final four, the first time the club have ever reached this stage.

Atletico, who signed Aguero from Independiente in 2006, trail Barcelona 2-1 going into the second at the Vicente Calderon, but with an away goal in the bag they will be confident of threatening Luis Enrique's men, who have just one win in their last four matches.

Aguero watched from the Etihad dressing room as Atleti beat PSV on penalties in the last round, and he admits he will be keeping a close eye on events in Madrid, and in Lisbon where Bayern Munich take on Benfica, as he prepares for Friday's draw.



"I am obviously going to follow both games," he told reporters. "Obviously I hope the best team goes through, Atleti in the last few years have improved a lot and I think they can give Barcelona a really tough game. I played in Atletico and I want them to do well.

"Atleti are playing really well and, as well as that, they have an Argentine in El Cholo [Diego Simeone]. I am happy with how he has taken Atletico forward and I hope he can keep doing so."

Real Madrid secured their place in the final four after coming from behind to beat Wolfsburg 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, overturning a 2-0 first-leg deficit.

Aguero admitted before the quarter-final draw that he hoped to avoid Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but, perhaps buoyed by going one step further, he is now happy to take on all comers.







"At this point you cannot choose [an opponent]," he added. "To win the Champions League you have to play against the best and today we were up against one of those, a favourite. Now we'll have to see who the other candidates are but we know it will be tough."

Aguero missed a first-half penalty against PSG on Tuesday, but he is confident he will have the opportunity to make amends.

"These things happen, I'm not on a good run with penalties but the important thing is we qualified and I will get another chance to make up for it soon.

"I have scored a lot of goals but the important thing is to get through."

City's progress represents something of a statement for Manuel Pellegrini, who has long known that he will be replaced this summer no matter how the Blues perform this season.



And Aguero believes his manager will have taken extra pleasure from guiding his team to the final stages and surpassing expectations.

"We know that he won't be there for the next season so to be in the semis is something really amazing, it gives us great pride to take City to this level.

"It is important for him and for all of us, obviously it is important for him because he knows he won't be here so I imagine he must be very happy, very pleased. I hope we can go even further.

"The confidence is there, we are in semis and anything can happen. We will be at our maximum, depending on who we play against, but we will be going all out to win it."

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