Sterling insists Jesus is not just a substitute for Aguero

Raheem Sterling argued Gabriel Jesus should not be seen as just Sergio Aguero’s deputy as he insisted that Manchester City have two high-class strikers.

Jesus drew level with City’s record scorer on 23 goals this season with the decider in Friday’s 2-1 winover Real Madrid. Jesus also set up Sterling’s opener before going on to become the first player ever to score in two victories over Zinedine Zidane’s Real in the same season. Aguero, meanwhile, is undergoing treatment for a knee injury.

“He’s not a sub, we’ve got two great strikers at this club,” the Englishman said. “Both strikers score goals and when you play with either one of them you know what you expect from each of them. They are both top players in front of goal. You saw from Gabby his calmness in front of goal was brilliant.”

Pep Guardiola has invariably praised Jesus for his work rate off the ball and both of City’s goals at the Etihad Stadium stemmed from his willingness to press defenders.

And Sterling added: “Against Real it was important to run our socks off and he’s always at the top of that list for doing that. He works for the team and always contributes. He’s been involved with both goals and I’m pleased for him.”

Sterling’s early goal was his 100th for City and made him just the sixth Englishman to score 20 times in the Champions League.

It puts him in elite company alongside Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Harry Kane. He said: “It’s a good achievement but I want some more in the next couple of games, to keep progressing. But the important thing is my goals count for something and hopefully at the end of the competition they can do.”