Ice-cool Jesus steps it up to fight for place
GABRIEL Jesus has been forced to up his game to compete with Sergio Aguero for a place in the City team.
And the Brazil striker has pinpointed two ways in which he has already improved.
“I’m now way cooler in front of the goal, my shot precision is way much better than before,” he said. larly, less minutes than the other ones, but the important players I try to let them play. [Ilkay] Gundogan is at an incredible level, Kevin [De Bruyne] is, what can I say about David [Silva]?
“Gabriel also. I just thought because the first game in the Champions League, David and Sergio didn’t play and I would let them play the second game.”
Aguero also felt a minor muscle problem in his leg on Friday afternoon, but came off the bench to set
“I scored three goals this season with my left foot, which used to be my weakness. I’m always looking for development.”
Jesus is set to make way for Aguero as the Blues take on Dinamo Zagreb tonight, and the Brazilian thinks this could be City’s year after three agonising exits on away goals. City’s third goal at Everton. “On Friday Sergio felt something a little bit in the leg. I said OK, to start the game I prefer Gabriel, in the last minutes, go Sergio,” the City boss said. “He came in and make two actions to shoot. The third goal came from him. I know he wants to score goals, to keep going at that level. The last game was incredible, Watford. How good he plays, scoring one goal but had four or five chances. He could’ve scored five goals.
“Gabriel in Preston played good. I
“The work that the club has been doing speaks for itself,” he said. “Man City has been growing a lot, two Premier League titles in a row, four trophies last season, playing very good football.
“Liverpool had a great Premier League, losing just one game, and didn’t win it not because they weren’t try to let them play, both. I know the guy who does not play is not happy but that’s what it is.”
Both Aguero and Jesus have scored in their last six starts for the club now, but Guardiola insists there isn’t a rivalry between the club’s two chief goalscorers.
“I think they are real friends, they respect each other. That’s good,” he said. “It’s important Gabriel goes and scores goals, and Sergio creates chances and scores goals. That is what we want.” good but due to our own merits. We’ve kept a high level of concentration when we couldn’t lose a point, so we are more prepared now. We are more mature and hopefully this year will be better. Every player has the desire to win the Champions League. I do share this desire and try to do my best in every opportunity.”