Aguero, Kompany show value of old guard amid Guardiola's revolution

For all the talk of Pep Guardiola's revolutionary tactics, two players who appeared to be at odds with his philosophy were the ones to clinch his first trophy in England.

Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany each had reasons to fear for their future at the club. Despite being the most prolific striker in City's history, Aguero seemed to be too one-dimensional for Guardiola's liking, and Kompany suffered too many injuries in succession to be a regular captain.

The decorated Spaniard could well have dumped them to make room for his flashy signings, just as unceremoniously as he shipped out Joe Hart. But he found roles for Aguero and Kompany, and the two rewarded Guardiola for his trust in Sunday's League Cup final.

Each scored in the lopsided 3-0 win over Arsenal, with David Silva - another remnant of the 2011-12 Premier League-winning side - adding a sweet consolation goal. City didn't play the cleanest match or do the best job retaining the ball - simple passes were misplaced by midfield metronome Kevin De Bruyne - but this team showed the same ruthlessness that defined its memorable march to the English summit. With just three shots on target, City's elder statesmen simply knew what to do in the biggest moments and how to handle themselves when the time came to pounce.

Silva's silky skill on the ball and laser-sharp understanding of space made him a Guardiola favourite. It's been much tougher for Aguero and Kompany to get regular minutes, with younger, more well-rounded players coming in each and every year.

Aguero was reportedly unhappy with the way his coach had treated him just a few months ago. The 29-year-old apparently felt Guardiola had disrespected his achievements as City's all-time record scorer, and when the Argentine was substituted early in a win over Tottenham, he threw his gloves to the ground.

There was a feeling that the more static Aguero couldn't lead a high press quite like Gabriel Jesus. Guardiola's decision to start the Brazilian ahead of Aguero in the Manchester derby felt like a changing of the guard.

But the manager found a way to play with Aguero without compromising his principles. Knowing he'd convert the opportunities he gets, Guardiola made sure his team plays for Aguero and finds him in space. In other words, making sure he isn't left isolated. And it's worked: Aguero is now on 30 goals for the season, with half of them coming in the new year.

City drew first blood against Arsenal in the most direct way possible. Aguero latched onto Claudio Bravo's long goal kick, shrugged off Shkodran Mustafi, and looped in a first goal with ease. It was typical Aguero and further confirmation that his teammates will work the ball to him. He needn't worry about creating chances by himself.

Sunday's success would've meant just as much to Kompany. Sidelined by dozens of injuries in the decade since joining City, the 31-year-old defender celebrated his goal like a gleeful supporter. He jumped up and down, not looking at all like someone who had been there before. It was unbridled emotion - and rightfully so for a player who's struggled to stay fit for consecutive matches. Guardiola admitted in December that he can no longer count on Kompany for a long period of time. That must've hurt.

But at Wembley Stadium, the Belgian reminded his manager why he kept him in the squad. The most telling sign of Kompany's mini-revival was when he outpaced Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to a loose ball in City's area. Beating any forward with his kind of injury history would've been accomplishment enough, but outrunning one of the game's fastest players is something else. Kompany's always been an aggressive defender, and so he was Sunday, joining the attack when he could and throwing himself into the box on set pieces.

Guardiola could've gone with any other defender - every centre-back at his disposal was healthy - but his faith in Kompany proved that even the most progressive of managers know how to combine tactical nous with experience.