MANCHESTER -- Manuel Pellegrini declared that Sergio Aguero is still getting better after he fired Manchester City to a 6-0 thrashing of QPR with his third hat trick of the season.
Aguero took his tally to a career-best 31 goals, including 25 in the Premier League, as he closed in on the Golden Boot with a destructive display to relegate Rangers.
The Argentine turns 27 next month but Pellegrini feels he has developed in the last 12 months and will reach a new level again.
He said in a news conference: "When I see Kun playing the way he played today I'm happy how he is improving. It is not the same Aguero that played one year ago.
"He understands he must work harder, he receives a lot more ball. He is working harder during the week. In the way he continues improving, he will continue improving in the future.
"He is just 26. He must be a very important player in the future of this club. He was already but I think he must continue improving in the way he plays."
City are the top scorers in the Premier League and recorded their biggest win in the division this season.
"We never change that philosophy of football," added Pellegrini. "It is important also to keep a clean sheet, to be a balanced team and not concede easy goals.
"That is why I am happy not only for the six goals, but because we were a balanced team and played with a lot of spirit to win against a team that took a lot of risks because they needed to win."
Yaya Toure made his comeback after a hamstring injury as a substitute and Pellegrini said it would have been a risk to start him.
"Toure was not able to play 90 minutes and some doubt to play for the last 20 minutes," he added.
Pellegrini also shrugged off rumours on Saturday that Bayern boss Pep Guardiola has verbally agreed to join City next season, claiming: "I didn't read or hear any reports, and nobody told me."