Jesus is the best striker... at saving goals
FORWARD DOES SO MUCH MORE THAN SCORE SAYS GUARDIOLA
PEP GUARDIOLA has backed Gabriel Jesus to end his goal drought – and declared him one of the best strikers in the world.
Jesus has not scored in his past six appearances for Manchester City and is under pressure, with star striker Sergio Aguero closing in on a return to the first team after his latest injury setback.
Brazil forward Jesus, who missed six weeks at the start of the season with a thigh injury, last scored for City in a 1- 1 draw at home to Liverpool on November 8.
Guardiola is confident Jesus, who moved to the Etihad from Palmeiras for £ 27million four years ago, will soon be back among the goals and said the 23- year- old’s game and contribution is about much more than putting the ball in the net.
“Yeah, he will do it soon, because I see him every day,” said Guardiola. “And I love him so much.
“What he’s able to do is one of the reasons why we have conceded so few goals and few chances – it’s thanks exclusively to him.
“Without him, we would concede more chances. Sometimes I give credit to the other ones.
“Of course he wants to score goals, and he will do it.
“I want his goals, but his contribution is as the best striker in the world doing something that not every other striker can do for the team.
“With the way we play, he’s been high in dragging the ball as quickly and as close as possible from an opponent in the 18- yard box. He can help us to do it.”
Aguero made his long- awaited return with a goal in City’s 3- 0 Champions League win over Marseille last week, but missed the goalless Manchester derby through illness. City’s all- time record goalscorer trained yesterday and is likely to make the bench for tonight’s visit of West Brom, with Jesus once again leading the attack.
City are ninth, with game in hand on the teams above them, and Guardiola said there is no cause for concern at their current league position.
“In the Premier League we’d love to be higher, but we’re not far away, we can get a few results in a row,” said Guardiola. “I a have the feeling we are ready to do it. I know the standards this club and team has set, and I also know handling this situation is more difficult, but we accept the deal.
“We’re just in early December, we have many more months ahead and I know exactly what we have to do to get better.”
MANCHESTER CITY ( probable): Ederson; Cancelo, Stones, Dias, Mendy; De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo; Foden, Jesus, Torres.
WEST BROM ( probable): Johnstone; Ajayi, Ivanovic, O’Shea; Furlong, Gallagher, Swayers, Gibbs; Phillips, Krovinovic; Austin.