WATFORD -- Pep Guardiola has said that Sergio Aguero will stay at Manchester City next season after his side secured a Champions League place with a 5-0 victory over Watford.
Speculation has surrounded the future of the City striker since the arrival of fellow forward Gabriel Jesus in January with Aguero briefly losing his place in the side.
But he rounded off the season with two goals in the victory over Watford to ensure City finished third in the Premier League and delivered his best ever goals tally for a season with 33.
Asked whether Aguero and Vincent Kompany, who has suffered with injury throughout the season, were staying, Guardiola told a news conference: "They are players for Manchester City and will be at Manchester City next season.
"[Aguero] will be here next season. Happy? Good. Perfect.
"We finished 15 points behind Chelsea so we have to play better. Sergio helps us a lot, a lot. We have to provide him with better solutions to not only score more goals. But he has done his job really well."
Kompany, Fernandinho and Gabriel were also on the scoresheet as City quickly put to bed any lingering doubts of being overtaken by both Liverpool and Arsenal for a top-four spot.
Guardiola was relieved to have finished third, which means City will go straight into the Champions League group stage, and he expects City to be more competitive next season.
"From the beginning we wanted to win so it was in our hands -- whatever happened at the Emirates," he said. "Watford had big troubles in defence but always, the last game of the season when you play for something, is complicated.
"It was a lot of pressure but we showed many, many good things and we are so happy.
"The gap in the Premier League is so big to Chelsea and Tottenham, we are going to try to play better. The only way to improve is to play better.
"We were not good enough but we are going to try to reduce that gap. For the club it is important. In my humble opinion the players deserve it, to be in the Champions League next season.
"How beautiful it is to be in the draw and face those big clubs on a Tuesday and Wednesday night -- the best clubs in Europe."
Meanwhile, Guardiola refused to confirm the future of seven players whose contracts run out at the end of June. They include Yaya Toure is and the midfielder was given a huge hug by the City boss when he was substituted in the 63rd minute.
"You will know [their futures] but not today," Guardiola added. "I said thank you [to Yaya] for what he has done. It was an outstanding performance this season."
