Pep Guardiola has finally given Gabriel Jesus his perfect role at Manchester City

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Pep Guardiola praised Gabriel Jesus’ humility and versatility after the Brazil forward turned star in Manchester City’s 5-0 win over Norwich City.

And Jesus’ ball crossed in the seventh minute, Tim Kroll scored in his own net and Jack Grealish scored the first goal for City in the middle of the first half.

Another great relationship with Kyle Walker saw Jesus groom Raheem Sterling to make it 4-0 before Riyad Mahrez completed the defeat.

The 24-year-old is one of the big players who have been linked with a move away from City during this transfer window, as the pursuit of Harry Kane casts further doubt on his future.

But playing on the right wing against Norwich may give Jesus a new lease on life that he desperately needs in his Blues career.

“The best moments as a coach are when you can work with people like Gabriel,” Guardiola said during his post-match press conference. “He never complains. If he gets five minutes, he plays the best five he can do. His face has never been bad. He respects his teammates and my decisions.

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“Play right, he’s happy, play center he’s happy, play left he’s happy. Today, the connection with Kyle was exceptional and I’m more than happy with his performance.

“He is a very important player for us. Congratulations to Gabriel because he deserves the best in life. He is very generous.”

In contrast to their lack of depth in attacking position – Ferran Torres was one of the afternoons where he looked like a temporary option in ninth – City are spoiled for choice when it comes to wide strikers, as evidenced by the scene of Sterling and Mahrez coming off the bench for a card. Register.

Perhaps that’s why Jesus was usually the man leading the line rather than supplying him with ammo, but a look at his record when working from the right suggests he might be a trick worth committing to this coming weekend’s visit to Arsenal and. behind – on the other side.

Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus celebrates his first goal against Norwich City

According to Transfermarkt, which splits players’ appearances by starting position, Saturday was the first time Jesus had started a Premier League game on City’s right flank since the last two games of the 2016-17 season, when he scored a goal and assist each in each. Match against West Bromwich Watford.

Taking into account his time at Palmeiras, Jesus scored five goals and five assists in nine games for the club as a right winger – a small sample size but he embellished decisively in the national team colours.

Brazil coach Tite Jesus turned to the right side of his attack during the 2019 Copa America. He responded by scoring and assisting in both the semi-finals against arch-rivals Argentina and the final against Peru.

He missed his efforts slightly by being sent off later in the decider, but the difference for a player who failed to score in five consecutive games as Brazil’s national team striker at the 2018 World Cup was huge.

In Russia we saw a player familiar to City supporters. Someone anxious about missed opportunities – as he once said – meant that he “wanted to shoot me in the head”.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – AUGUST 21: Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus celebrates his side’s fourth goal scored by Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling (not pictured) during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Norwich City at the Etihad Stadium on August 21, 2021 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Tom Flathers/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

There was a liveliness and freedom in Jesus’ match against Norwich that we rarely see when he plays up front, and Guardiola suggested he might be more naturally suited to performing at a large scale.

“Some players, when they get the ball in wider positions, their body shape is more open and they have more time to make the right decisions,” the City coach explained.

“When you play in a central position, this is the most difficult position to play football. You receive the ball and you are more [defenders]. It is more difficult.

“Gabriel is a little better at playing a little wider but Sergio [Aguero] He was injured for a year and a half, so we had to use Gabriel – we didn’t have many alternatives in this position.”

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If Kane does not arrive, alternatives will be similarly scarce, and Jesus will likely be pressured to act as the spearhead of the attack again.

Perhaps his dazzling display in front of the faithful returning to the Etihad Stadium will build his often shaky confidence and lead to his scoring streak as No. 9.

But if not, this weekend has provided a reminder of the other, more diverse gifts that Jesus must give when raiding from the right.

Would you like to see more Gabriel Jesus on the right wing after his impressive display against Norwich? Follow new City Fan Brands brand writer Dom Farrell on Twitter to join the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section below.

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