MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Gabriel Jesus has returned to boost Manchester City's quadruple bid, offering much-needed relief for the club's record goal-scorer Sergio Aguero.
Aguero has been in prolific form for Pep Guardiola's side, scoring 12 goals since the turn of the year as City fight to retain the Premier League title.
But Jesus's fitness problems have piled an increased workload on Aguero, who played six games over 24 days in February while his City team-mate struggled with a hamstring injury in recent weeks.
However, Brazil forward Jesus is in competition to return as City visit Bournemouth on Saturday (March 2) looking to secure a victory that would temporarily move them two points ahead of Liverpool before the current leaders face Everton on Sunday.
Jesus's presence is a relief for Guardiola, whose squad has been stretched by the injuries to Fernandinho and Aymeric Laporte in last weekend's League Cup final win over Chelsea.
City captain Vincent Kompany has made a welcome return to the squad, playing three games in a week despite his long record of injury problems.
But Guardiola admitted handling Kompany's persistent fitness issues has been a challenge.
"It's not easy, in one time he's incredible, the only guy I've met who doesn't train for two months then can play 90 minutes after one and a half training sessions," Guardiola said.
"He knows his body perfectly. It's a risk. But John Stones is back, like Gabriel, we'll see tomorrow.
"Nico (Otamendi) cannot play against Schalke and Aymer is injured so let's see what he have to do.
"He likes to play the way we try to play. I've spoken to him. He adapts quite well, when we are not here he has been injured, the intensity, he knows his position perfectly, he knows the game.
"He understands what we need to do. We cannot use him so regularly because of his fitness but when he is fit he's an incredible player."
The situation regarding England midfielder Fabian Delph, who has been struggling with an ankle injury and illness, is less clear however, with Guardiola confirming that he is available but has not been selected for the trip to Bournemouth.
"He was injured but makes the training session. He can play but he's not in the squad," Guardiola said.
Let alone after playing the Citizens in that Wednesday clash. Spurs sit third in the league and are on course to qualify for the Champions League, while City can put all their energy into the
'A tragic case': Grandparents clash in fight over Andreen
Football: Madrid plans 'robust' security for all-English Champions League final A police officer walking outside the Wanda Metropolitano stadium where the Champions League final will be held, on
Madrid Plans 'robust' Security For All-English Champions
Football: Ferland Mendy set for Real move, says France coach Deschamps Spanish media reports said Real Madrid had agreed a fee of 55 million euros (S$85 million) for Olympique Lyonnais left-back
Ferland Mendy set for Real move, says France coach Deschamps
Football: Solskjaer makes dream start as Man United thrash Cardiff Solskjaer praises buccaneering Man United players after stylish win to put the seal on an emphatic win. The result and
Solskjaer reacts to 17-year-old's display in Man United's 2-0
Football: Spurs 'still in a dream' after Man City win, says
The former Liverpool boss was not shy about heaping praise on the new one. These Reds Are Built To Last. "The problem now in football is how much money you spend and whether you can buy
Tottenham 1-2 Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp's side show their title
Liverpool FC news, opinion and videos updated daily with LFC photographs, fixtures, match reports, football quizzes, features and discussion from Anfield. Klopp's Reds: Built to last by Anthony Kelly 14th February 2019 1329 Views
Rafa Benitez on Klopp: These Reds Are Built To Last - The
Watford's Andre Gray strikes late to spoil Brendan Rodgers' Leicester City debut | Photo Credit: AP, File Image Watford's Andre Gray scored a stoppage-time winner as Leicester City began life under new boss Brendan Rodgers in underwhelming fashion, suffering a 2-1 defeat at his former club in the Premier League on Sunday.
Watford's Gray strikes late winner to spoil Rodgers
BERLIN: German champions Bayern Munich have not yet made an offer for Manchester City winger Leroy Sane despite their long-standing desire to sign him, club CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said on Wednesday.
Bayern have not yet tabled bid for Man City's Sane: Rummenigge
Iran and Iraq are neighboring countries, sharing a long history. In the contemporary era, especially during the reign of Saddam Hussein, the two countries had bad relations and fought the Iran-Iraq War for 8 years. In 2001, for the first time in decades, an Iran-Iraq match was not held at a neutral venue.
Iran - Football - BBC Sport
Dubai, Jan 22 (AFP) Son Heung-min's South Korea needed an extra-time winner to beat world ranked 113th Bahrain 2-1 as they stumbled into the Asian Cup quarter-finals in unconvincing fashion on
Son's Korea survive Bahrain scare to reach Asian quarters
Cheetahs eye Stags' scalp
News Post Enquiry Form for Republication or Keepsake. To republish or purchase any Singapore Press Holdings articles and photographs, please fill up the form below.
The Straits Times - Breaking News, Lifestyle & Multimedia News
Raheem Sterling of England scores his hat-trick goal against the Czech Republic (Image: Clive Rose/Getty Images) England were brilliant and no-one more so than Raheem Sterling. Gareth Southgate's men start their Euro 2020 campaign in style!
Manchester United May 22, Blueprint to beat Manchester City flawed as Pep's men remain in charge. A rash of articles have appeared considering Liverpool's "blueprint" on how to beat Manchester
0 Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen