Manchester City thumped Huddersfield Town to set up a Champions League last 16 tie with Barcelona. Gabriel Jesus, who scored twice in the 3-0 win, sent Pep Guardiola a message with his performance The Brazilian has been one of few bright spots for Manchester City this season and is enjoying an upturn in form over recent weeks. However, he will be suspended for the match against Barca after being booked earlier on Saturday evening.,
The “premier league” is one of the most popular soccer leagues in the world. This year, Manchester City has been on fire. They have won all but two games this season and are poised to take home their first premier league title since 2014. One player that’s been a huge part of Man City’s success is Gabriel Jesus, who has scored 22 goals in his first 30 appearances for the club. The Brazilian striker sent Pep Guardiola a message with his goal against Chelsea on Saturday night. His strike was enough to send City through to the Champions League quarterfinals where they will face Liverpool next week.,
12:00 p.m. ET
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Dawson, Rob Correspondent
MANCHESTER, United Kingdom — Pep Guardiola’s periphery players couldn’t beat Liverpool in their FA Cup semifinal last weekend, but they turned up at a key point in the season to give the Manchester City manager a lift.
Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Fernandinho came out of the shadows to help City beat Watford 5-1 at the Etihad Stadium only 24 hours after Guardiola declared his team was “in crisis” due to a mix of injuries and weariness. Man City solidly re-established pressure on Liverpool in the Premier League title race, and rested key players ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League visit to Manchester on Tuesday. The task has been completed.
Jesus, who made his third league start in 2022, scored four goals and set up another for Rodri, demonstrating why Guardiola should reconsider keeping the Brazilian on the bench.
Zinchenko, making his fifth start in any competition since Boxing Day, set up Jesus’ first goal and made a last-ditch tackle on Emmanuel Dennis at 1-0 that was worth a goal in and of itself, while Fernandinho, who hadn’t started a league game since February, did what Fernandinho always does in midfield.
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None of the three will be certain of a starting spot in the Champions League semifinal first leg in three days, but even if they don’t, they will have contributed.
While the three worked hard to ensure City built up a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League table, Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez, and Ilkay Gundogan were given a rare day off on the bench. Kevin De Bruyne was only on the pitch for less than an hour, and Aymeric Laporte followed him off the field soon after.
Expect all of the starters to be fresh and ready for Tuesday’s match against Real Madrid.
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“From the first minute of the first half to the second half, we began well,” Guaridola stated. “We didn’t do a good job of defending, and we weren’t aggressive enough.” However, the men up front, not only Gabriel, who scored four goals, but all of them, were outstanding.
“We were two points behind when we beat Brighton [on Wednesday], and now we’re four points ahead.” A final was held in Brighton. Today was another final, which we won. We now have a chance to play in the final versus Leeds.
“Nothing alters the situation. To be winners, we must win all five games.”
Jesus may believe he’s done enough to start against Real Madrid, and he’s certainly given Guardiola food for thought.
The Brazilian has been linked with a transfer away from Manchester City in the summer, maybe to Arsenal or Juventus, and he did everything he could against Watford to add another zero to any prospective cost.
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“If there’s one guy in the world who deserves the best for himself, his family, and his friends, it’s Gabriel,” Guardiola continued.
“We’re all thrilled for him at the club when he’s in one of these situations because he’s so giving. We all know how he battles for his teammates, no matter what position he plays. He’s incredible.”
City are possibly seven games away from a Premier League and Champions League double after a tough season. Guardiola was able to keep his foot in the championship fight while still protecting the legs of certain key players ahead of a crucial European semifinal against Real Madrid.
It’s a time of year when every point matters, and a team Guardiola said was running on fumes has been granted some much-needed rest without straying off course.
The “psg” is a football club based in Paris, France. The team is currently playing in Ligue 1. They are the current champions of France and have won the Coupe de France on 7 occasions.
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