GIFTED GABRIEL SHOWS CHAMPS DON’T NEED KANE
GABRIEL JESUS is Brazil’s No.9. So Manchester City’s bid to land Harry Kane this summer will have given his ego a proper kicking.
How Pep Guardiola reaped the benefit of having a player straining to prove himself as the champions got back to winning ways.
Jesus was instrumental in Tim Krul’s early own goal before putting two simple finishes on a plate for Jack Grealish and substitute Raheem Sterling.
Aymeric Laporte – another City player with reason to put on a performance for his boss – also got in on the goals before sub Riyad Mahrez ensured a comfortable afternoon at home was reflected in the scoreline.
Jesus doesn’t score enough goals is the general consensus – and it will still rankle with him that he was the maker rather than the taker of chances with £150million-rated Kane still on City’s wish list.
Even against the meek and mild Canaries, he was instructed to play wide on the right while winger Ferran Torres led the line.
When Torres made way for Sterling just after the hour mark, he remained on the flank.
Guardiola said: “I am so happy for Gabriel. In life, he deserves the best because he is so generous.
“One reason why I am in the best moments of my career is because I can work with people like Gabriel.
“He never complains. If he plays five minutes, he plays the best five minutes he can play for himself and the team.
“He is happy to play right, he is happy to play central and he is happy to play left. This was an incredibly important performance for us.
“Gabriel is so important for me. You want to have as many players as you can in these positions and he deserved to continue playing.”
In the last 10 years, Norwich have been hit for five three times by City as well as a six and a seven.
Daniel Farke claims his team are better prepared for the top flight this time but, as against Liverpool last weekend, the Canaries produced a performance that matched the colour of their yellow shirts.
Farke was not as critical as perhaps he should have been.
“Of course, I am disappointed with the way we played,” he said. “It seemed like four times we conceded the same goal.
“But it has been a tough start. I am realistic
enough to know that we wouldn’t take too many points from these first two games.
“Liverpool last week had a point to prove and City also had a point to prove. They were presented with the silverware in a buzzing stadium so we always knew it was going to be difficult.
“But we’re not too down. There are other games where we will have to win our points.”
It took less than seven minutes for the visitors to concede.
Krul was credited with an own goal when Jesus’ cross flew past the Dutch keeper off Grant Hanley.
Torres then saw a crisp finish from Jesus’ pass ruled out when ref Graham Scott used his monitor to rule that Bernardo Silva had tripped Lukas Rupp to win possession.
But in the 22nd minute, Jesus’ movement and Kyle Walker’s pass exposed Dimitris Giannoulis down the right.
And when the South American’s cross bounced off Grealish at the far post and bobbled over the line, the £100m midfielder didn’t know whether to celebrate or apologise.
Laporte, unsettled by his lack of opportunities last season, drove in City’s third in the 64th minute after his header from Ilkay Gundogan’s cross had been blocked.
Sterling then cashed in on Jesus’ unselfishness by rolling his cross in from close range in the 71st minute.
Mahrez completed the scoring six minutes from time after he had broken Norwich’s lazy attempt to catch him offside by ramming home Ruben Dias’ pass.