PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s naturalised footballer Sergio Aguero was once a dangerous attacker ever hungry for goals, not unlike his famous Argentine namesake.
But at the ongoing AFF Hyundai Cup, the Harimau Malaya fans are seeing a different version of the 32-year-old who featured for Thai League 1 club Kanchanaburi Power last season.
Aguero has embraced his new role as a box-to-box midfielder with passion. The position demands intelligence and hard work, but he appears to be relishing the challenge.
And that can only bode well for national interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe’s men when they take on the Philippines in their do-or-die final Group B match at the Cheras Football Stadium tomorrow.
Aguero has started in all three of Malaysia’s matches so far, operating as a No. 6 despite being primarily a playmaker for most of the teams he has played for previously.
“I’m enjoying my new role as a box-to-box midfielder. Last season in Thailand, I was used in that position for most of the games, and Peter (then Malaysia coach Cklamovski) also used me as a No. 6. I have adapted to a few different positions before, so it’s not a problem,” he said.
Malaysia could certainly use his industry in the middle department against the Filipinos in a game they need to win to make the semi-finals.
Despite two wins and being equal on points with second-placed Myanmar, Malaysia are currently third in Group B due to a lower goal difference.
Only the top two teams will advance to the last four.
