Goals of relative importance, says family guy Jesus
PEP Guardiola is hoping the arrival of Gabriel Jesus’ family from Brazil will kick-start a goalscoring spree for the striker.
The striker ended a four-month goal drought in the Premier League with a double in City’s 3-1 win over Everton.
After the game the 21-year-old said having his family over from Brazil had helped him end his disappointing run in front of goal.
There were at least half-a-dozen family and friends of Jesus at the Etihad to see him get on the end of two Leroy Sane assists, including his mum Vera Lucia Diniz de Jesus, his two older brothers and his two-year-old nephew who was over for the first time.
“We can’t forget that football players are human beings and there are many players who have the talent but are in bad, bad form because of personal issues,” Guardiola said when asked about the importance of Jesus’ family.
“Maybe getting divorced, things not going well at home, problems with their mum, dad, whatever, and that can influence things a lot on the pitch, more than people can imagine or expect and sometimes we don’t know it.
“That’s why Gabriel has that feeling that, with his family here, he will be calmer, better.
“It’s good to have your family there. I could not live without my family, for example.
“Maybe it’s going to help Gabriel but I have always had the feeling in the past he’s a good lad in the locker room, he’s always with Bernardo and especially the Brazilian guys, always chatting, laughing, making jokes. But it will be good for him having his family here.”
Guardiola has backed Jesus consistently during his domestic goal drought, highlighting the parts of his game that can be integral to the way City play.
While he’s hoping the arrival of his family will help the Brazilian’s game, he was also pleased to hear him speaking English in his TV interviews after the game.
“Being alone, a young player, I don’t think he’s got a girlfriend, he’s not married, so to have his family here is so important and I think it’s going to help him. His family will be so important to him,” he said.
“But what I also like is it’s the first I listened to him in the media speaking English. That’s cool.
“I insist on them having to learn English because sometimes I have the feeling he maybe doesn’t understand me when I speak in English so it’s important to have that feeling that he’s speaking
RAHEEM Sterling has become the face of a new Nike campaign after speaking out against the media’s portrayal of young black footballers.
The campaign, which was launched on social media after City’s win against Everton on Saturday, has echoes of the successful drive launched by the American sportswear giant which featured former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. He was at the forefront of a movement that saw players kneel during the playing of the United States’ national anthem in protest against the shooting of young black men by police officers.
Sterling made a statement on Instagram last weekend after receiving alleged racial abuse from a Chelsea supporter during City’s 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge.
The England international questioned how black players are characterised in relation to white players in a move seen as a watershed moment for race relations within English football. English much better.” And Pep believes Jesus is the ‘only striker in the world’ who can provide the energy he does to the City team.
“The strikers live for scoring goals they feel better. They want to score goals,” Guardiola said.
“But he’s made a lot of assists, his movement (is good) to create spaces. Still he’s a young player, we are going to give him time.
“Last game for example, he was exhausted but he finished like a fullback and he’s the only striker in the world who can do that.
“He’s an extra for our pressing. We have to help him to provide that and we are fully confident (in him).”