HAMMER

SOUTHAMPTON v MAN CITY ‘Don’t compare unique Jesus to legend Aguero’

PEP GUARDIOLA has boosted Manchester City’s Champions League dream - by insisting if his stars can beat Liverpool they can become Kings of Europe next month.

Despite their domestic dominance, City have a history of underachievement in the Champions League and an uneasy relationship with UEFA after falling foul of Financial Fair Play rules.

The deposed Premier League champions are awaiting the outcome of an appeal to CAS, the Swiss court of sporting arbitration, after being accused of flouting FFP rules again with UEFA calling for a two-year ban from Europe’s elite competition.

But Etihad boss Guardiola believes City can put all their troubles behind them – by winning the Champions League next month.

Lockdown

City lead Real Madrid 2-1 after their round of 16 first leg win in the Spanish capital before lockdown and are in electrifying form after destroying new champions Liverpool 4-0.

And Guardiola is confident if they can turn on that kind of power they can win the Champions League – even though the rest of the games are likely to be played in neutral venues in Portugal.

“Every game is different to the others but I cannot deny that beating Liverpool, the way we did it was amazing.

“Football is feelings, it is moments. Sometimes your mood is up and sometimes down, but we can say we beat maybe the best team in the world right now and so we can win the Champions League.

“Next season will be next season. We have time to think of it. But it is important when you beat opponents like Liverpool, it gives a message to ourselves, that we can do it.

“We can come back to what we were. I admire the way we played with incredible courage, nobody scared though we know the quality of the opposition. But every game is different and Madrid play in a different way.

“We can only look at us and our qualities – and I want to arrive in the best condition in these games and afterwards put our mentality on the pitch.

“These games are not won with tactics but desire. It’s who wants to do it. When one team wants to do it, they can be beaten but it will not be easy for the opposition. So we will try to do it and try to arrive with that feeling.

Excited

“We are incredibly excited to play against Madrid, they are the king of this competition.

“We would love to play here, of course in our city and feel close to our people, but we will go where UEFA decide we have to play. If it means going to Porto, to Portugal, we will go there.”

Guardiola’s men have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League the past two seasons after reaching the semis in 2016.

The hurt is evident for the Spaniard who feels City haven’t had any luck in their quest to win the trophy.

He said: “Don’t let me talk about it, please!”

PEP GUARDIOLA has claimed it’s unfair to compare Gabriel Jesus to Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero.

Argentinian goal-machine Aguero is sidelined after knee surgery and won’t be back for another five or six weeks.

In his absence, 23-year-old Jesus is filling the gap – and is finding the going tough, with some critics urging Guardiola to raid the transfer market for another striker.

Jesus (right) has not scored in his last eight games, but Guardiola believes he is “unique” and the perfect complement to

32-year-old Aguero.

The Brazilian star is expected to lead the City line at Southampton today.

Guardiola said: “No one can compare with Sergio and what he has done in his career first because he is older than Gabriel. “But Gabriel gives us something which is perfect for me and us because he and Sergio are complementary – what one guy has, the other struggles with and vice versa.

“Gabriel has something unique in the world. He helps us to be more aggressive because he is a real fighter.

“I remember the goals we have scored in the last four or five games are thanks to him, so Gabriel is something special for us.

“It’s unfair to compare him to Sergio like it’s unfair to compare me with another one – every player is different and has to adapt his qualities for the benefit of him and the team.”

Jesus was building some momentum before lockdown, bagging the winner at Leicester City in the Premier League before scoring a decisive equaliser four days later against Real Madrid to set up a 2-1 Champions League last-16 first leg win in the Bernabeu.

And Guardiola will be hoping that the South American star will be back hitting the goal trail at St Mary’s Stadium this evening.

TONIGHT KO 7PM