Gabriel: I’ve got the best teacher!
GAB TRYING TO LEARN FROM BLUES STAR SERGIO
GABRIEL Jesus says he is learning from a City ‘legend’ in Sergio Aguero as he fights against him for his place in the starting XI.
The pair made a rare start together in City’s League Cup win against Southampton at the Etihad on Tuesday night, with Jesus playing out wide and Aguero through the middle, but despite being forced to compete with each other for starts in Guardiola’s team, they maintain a good relationship. “It is very good,” Jesus said about his relationship with Aguero.
“Because of course sometimes we are in a derby Brazil against Argentina but it is very good.
“The same with Nico (Otamendi), when we play against Argentina it is very different but it is a very good relationship.”
Jesus has made 12 appearances in all competitions so far this season, scoring five and getting two assists, and he spoke about how he has been learning from his team-mate.
“It is difficult to describe Sergio. Sergio is the top scorer of the club and every game he shows us why he is the top scorer so of course I have to learn from him because he is a legend,” Jesus said.
“Every game he scores. I want to score every game but I think it is different, me and Sergio.
“I am 22 years old, I have to improve my football, practise my finishing, so I have to do it and I have to learn from Sergio.”
City legend Glyn Pardoe couldn’t hide his pride at seeing grandson tommy Doyle appear for the first-team this week, but says it comes as no surprise.
Doyle played the full 90 minutes in the Carabao Cup victory over Southampton on tuesday, marking his first competitive start for the Blues.
the 18-year-old midfielder revealed after the game how he spoke to grandfather Pardoe before the game – and that he told him that every player has to make their debut at some point.
But Pardoe insists Doyle deserves all
Ex-City goalkeeper Joe Hart has revealed his first impression of Vincent Kompany after the Blues legend completed his transfer to the club in 2008.
Kompany completed his move to Manchester after breaking into the Hamburg first-team, making 22 appearances in the Bundesliga prior to his departure.
He signed a four-year deal at the club and Hart admitted his knowledge outside the Premier League wasn’t great so he didn’t know what to expect from the Belgian.
However, he was left seriously the credit himself for making the grade at City at youth level in order to catch the eye of manager Pep Guardiola.
He told ManCity.com: “Watching tommy took me right back 57 years ago to when i was 15 and made my City debut. it was tremendous, and i was so, so proud.
“to see him out there was probably even more exciting for me than when i was playing. i’ve never given him advice and i didn’t the other night - i sometimes talk to him about what happened in the game, but i can’t make him play football.
“it’s something that is in you, and if you do have it in you then you’ve got a chance.
“tommy has always been like that. He’s impressed by Kompany after meeting him for the first time.
“the club was going through a real transition stage,” he told Gloved Podcast.
“We were making signings and the club was trying to move places. My knowledge outside of the Premier League wasn’t great but i was assured he was a very good holding midfielder from Hamburg.
“He came in with an awful lot of confidence and swagger but at the same time, very organised and humble guy. He gave a very professional impression.”
Kompany featured sporadically in defensive midfield but eventually blossomed into one of the club’s greatest always had a good brain, he always been sharp, he trains hard and that what’s you’ve got to do.”
Pardoe knows
Doyle’s game better than most, and said the midfielder has the drive and attitude needed to succeed at the Etihad, as well as possessing the right skills to fit in with Guardiola’s technical philosophy.
“He’s a great lad, he can play, and he has got a great attitude,” Pardoe said. “to play for City is all tommy has ever wanted since he was knee-high as a lad and i was kicking a ball with him when he was a four-year-old.
“the hours he has put in and the travelling too, as we live 30 miles away, show his dedication, and he is always looking to learn more and develop.
“i’m confident in him. i know he can play, and i know he can do it, so i didn’t get too worked up watching him play.
“tommy couldn’t be in a better place under Pep who is such a great manager and who gets the very best out of players.
“And he’ll benefit so much from playing with all those wonderful players too.
“they just help make the game easier. they want the ball – they pass it and when that happens it becomes an easier game.
“Hopefully now with tommy it’s the start of something and i just want him to go on and do even better than i did.” ever centre-backs. the 33-year-old left the club at the end of last season after making 360 appearances and Hart claimed he was always destined to be a leader in the team.
He added: “He’s always wanted to be a leader, even when he first arrived and people didn’t know who he was.
“you don’t just turn up at Man City for a couple of million quid and bring the kind of aura he brought.
“He earned everyone’s respect with the way he played, self-sacrifice and a real warrior spirit. Good things inspired him, bad things angered him – that’s what i think is really special about Vinny.”