Sergio Agüero is expected to stay at Manchester City with Khaldoon al‑Mubarak describing as “ridiculous” the view the striker could leave, despite being dropped by Pep Guardiola at times last season. However, the chairman did admit City’s trophyless campaign was a disappointment.

Agüero was left out at the start of February in favour of Gabriel Jesus but the latter sustained a broken foot that allowed Agüero to re-establish himself.

Asked if the Argentinian would remain at City, Mubarak said: “Absolutely. There has never been any doubt about that. I’ve read a lot about the speculation on this and it’s ridiculous. Sergio Agüero is one of the best players in the world. And we are a team that aspires to win in every competition we compete in – having Sergio Agüero as part of the squad is an absolute must. And it has never been in doubt.”

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Until the closing phase of the campaign Guardiola offered mixed messages regarding Agüero. The manager praised the striker’s goalscoring, while questioning whether the 28-year-old could contribute more to buildup play.

Agüero was dropped for the 4-0 win at West Ham and Jesus preferred. When the 20-year-old, who joined for £27m in January, was injured playing at Bournemouth soon afterwards, Agüero was reinstated. He went on to end the season with 33 goals and earned unqualified praise for his display in the 3-1 victory against West Bromwich Albion, the term’s penultimate outing.

Agüero did not score, but Guardiola said: “He made an amazing, amazing performance. Sergio played, wow, like a long time I didn’t see.”

Under the 45-year-old City finished in third place and were knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16, two stages earlier than last term.

Mubarak said: “In a normal circumstance ending the season without a trophy would be a very disappointing season but it’s not, it really isn’t. While I would say not winning the league and not being within close range of winning the title is no doubt a disappointment, not winning either the FA Cup or the League Cup is also a disappointment.

“There’s nothing that annoys me more than people either calling me or sending me a message congratulating me on third place. My answer was pretty standard to everyone: ‘Don’t congratulate me on getting third, there’s nothing to congratulate, only congratulate me if we win the league.’

“So, this is not the ambition, not at all. There’s nothing to celebrate. I think it’s something which is important, it’s critical, and I know it requires a lot of hard work, particularly in this league, to be in the top four, but our ambition is to win the league. And if not winning it, to go as close as physically possible to winning the league. We are team now that expects to win every year at least one trophy. And then to go further every year in the Champions League. So from that perspective the season has been a disappointment but if you look at it from a different lens we are truly going in a direction that is positive.

“I am very excited about how we are developing as a team, how Pep has taken the squad and really started a process of going through that natural cycle of development. We’ve gone through several cycles over the last nine years and we’re in the middle of one now but you can see where we’re going. I have high confidence we are going in the right direction. You’ve seen many glimpses of us playing a type of football that is very exciting and very entertaining that I think the fans will grow to love and the results will come, I have no doubts the results will come.”

Mubarak denied Guardiola was surprised by English football. He said: “The Premier League is a unique league, we say that all the time. It’s a very demanding league, it’s very physical, the number of games – it’s just non-stop.

“Unlike any other league in the world you have seven or eight teams who are top level and 20 teams where frankly you can play any team in this league home or away and neither match is easy, neither match is a given three points.

“Pep has introduced a new way of playing for us, an exciting way but a way that requires work and which requires a set of players I think function within that system. If I look back at the season that puzzle wasn’t complete and I hope this summer we support Pep in completing that puzzle.”

City are hopeful of securing Benfica’s Ederson for €40m (£34.69m), a world-record fee for a goalkeeper. The Brazilian is in Manchester to take his medical at the club and though there are some third-party issues to address these are not expected to be an obstacle.

Guardiola’s pursuit of the 23-year-old Brazilian confirms the signing last summer of Claudio Bravo to replace Joe Hart was unsuccessful. Bravo endured a near-disastrous season with a series of errors that proved costly.

Yaya Touré is expected to sign on for another season, something which the chairman would welcome. “Yaya has shown us this year again and again how he can contribute to this team,” he said. “So Yaya I hope will be with us and continue his journey with us.”

Regarding Vincent Kompany, who finished strongly following an injury-blighted two years, Mubarak said: “It’s been an extremely difficult journey for him. But he’s dealt with it.”

On the question of how many players Guardiola might add this summer, the chairman said: “You will see us continue in the same range of players in terms of numbers that we have done in the past, plus or minus. If you look at our last two or three windows, the number of players we have done and that continuous change we have made in the squad has worked well for us. I think this year we will see more of that.

“There are particular positions that are clear. You can see the players that are exiting right now, and that will give a clear indication of the positions that are a high priority for us to fill. Full-back is clear both on the right and the left are areas that require investment from our side. Pep relies heavily on that position. The way he plays, and you’ve seen glimpses of that this year, he has a big affinity to that full-back position on the right and the left, and he has a big requirement in terms of the type of players that fit the role he wants for that position. So that’s an area that clearly requires some work and we know exactly what Pep wants. More importantly Pep knows what he wants and who he wants. I hope we are successful in bringing in the players he needs.”