Guardiola hails Jesus after five-goal romp
MAN. CITY 5
Krul (7, og) , Grealish (22), Laporte (64), Sterling (71), Mahrez (84)
NORWICH CITY 0
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola insisted that Gabriel Jesus is very much part of his plans after he starred in the 5-0 win over Norwich.
The Brazil international has been linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium this summer in order for City to raise funds to try and sign Tottenham striker Harry Kane.
But, playing in a wider position, he showed his worth against the Canaries, making three of the goals as City got their season up and running in style.
It was his fizzed cross that goalkeeper Tim Krul ended up diverting into his own net in the seventh minute, then he also laid on Jack Grealish’s first goal since his £100-million move.
After Aymeric Laporte swept home a loose ball from a corner, Jesus then teed up Raheem Sterling with another cross from the right before Riyad Mahrez completed the rout in the final 10 minutes.
For all the talk around City’s pursuit of Kane, which has so far faced frustration Jesus has been something of a forgotten man.
But Guardiola was full of praise for him and confirmed he will keep his place for the match against Arsenal next week. He said: “If I should answer all the rumours in the media, we need five press conferences. The moment I tell you I don’t like Gabriel, then we can talk about it.
“He has so much importance for me. It’s not just when he makes an exceptional performance like today, it’s every day. He deserves to continue playing, when a guy plays in this way he deserves to playagain.
“He never complains. He never disrespects his teammates. If he plays five minutes, he plays the best five minutes he can do. Play right he is happy, play central he is happy, play left he is happy. I am very pleased with the performance he has made.”
After opening games against Liverpool and now City, it has been a tough start for Norwich who face Leicester next week.
Boss Daniel Farke was unhappy with how four of City’s goals were almost identical.
“It was well deserved win,” hesaid.
“But we are disappointed with the way we conceded the goals because four times it was more or less the same goal.”