City pass ‘incredible test’
Jesus strikes as champions shrug off spot-kick jitters to beat Leicester
GABRIEL JESUS struck late to give Manchester City a 1-0 win at Leicester yesterday, strengthening their hold on second place behind champions-inwaiting Liverpool despite more woe from the penalty spot.
Pep Guardiola’s men have endured a turbulent week after they were banned from European club competitions for two years for breaches of financial fair play rules.
But a second-half winner from substitute
Jesus after Sergio Aguero had failed to convert a penalty put them 17 points clear of fifthplaced Tottenham and sends them into their midweek match against Real Madrid in good spirits.
City looked like they might have to settle for a draw after squandering their fourth penalty in a row in the Premier League, with each being missed by a different player.
“Don’t ask me about the attitude of these guys,” said Guardiola.
“You still doubt what they have done. These players have won seven titles in the last eight (domestic) competitions.
“Today, after missing the penalty, see the reaction we had against an incredibly good team, not just for where they are in the table right now but the way they played in general this season. It was an incredible test for us. “We have missed four penalties in a row but maybe we will shoot a penalty when we need it to win something,” Guardiola told the BBC.
“The keepers are good too, but the next one we are going to score.”
The City boss said his team were in good shape for their Champions
League last-16 first-leg tie in Spain.
“We are playing the kings of the competition, we will see, we will try to enjoy it and do our game,” he added.
Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers said he was “bitterly disappointed” with the result, which leaves his side seven points adrift of City, and felt his side should have had a penalty of their own when De Bruyne appeared to block a free-kick with his hands in the first half.
“We’re obviously very disappointed not to get something from the game. We had big opportunities.
“Of course you have to defend well, too. You’re going to get moved about at times, but I thought we did very well.”
On the two handball incidents: “Manchester City’s was a penalty. Kasper makes a fantastic save, but ours is clear too.
“Everyone bar Kevin’s arms are down. I believe this was one of the reasons VAR was introduced.
“VAR is fine, it’s the interpretation of it. That’s what needs sorting out.”