Gabriel Jesus’ hunger could help Manchester City rewrite the narratives where they come short in the crucial stage of last season

With just few weeks to the end of the season, Manchester City are in the driving seat in the two competitions they are in, which are the major competitions in club football.

Gabriel Jesus of Manchester City in action during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Leg One match between Manchester City and Real Madrid at City of Manchester Stadium on April 26, 2022 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)

The Citizens are currently on top of the standings in the Premier League with a point adrift of Liverpool, who will not back down in the race for the title without a fight.

In the Champions League, they hold a 4-3 first leg advantage when they head to Spain for the return leg against Real Madrid next week, and should they progress, they are probably going to be facing Liverpool in the final, as the Jürgen Klopp side hold a 2-0 lead heading into their second leg game with Villarreal.

Gabriel Jesus has however been highlighted as a player who can help them conquer it all this term. The striker has been limited to few involvement all season but Pep Guardiola has decided to show faith in the Brazilian lately, and the results has been staggering.

Could be due to the speculations that the player wants out of the club in the summer due to lack of playing time and the news linking Erlin Haaland with a move to the club, one which if actualized will further derail his career in the blue side of Manchester.

Arsenal has been heavily linked with a move for him and having worked under Mikel Arteta whilst the current Arsenal boss was assistant to Pep Guardiola in Manchester City, he could be convinced of a move since the Gunners are in need of a striker.

The 25 year old has been directly involved in 23 goals in 23 starts this season, of which nine of those have come in his last five starts. Shows how much of a fighter he is and how much he is willing to show he is a top striker.

All through his City career, he has never been considered a starter even when he was and currently is the only No.9 at the club. Guardiola has adopted a system that allows his team get on without one (a striker).

Pep Guardiola has adopted this approach ever since Sergio Agüero has struggled for match fitness and even though the players confessed they enjoyed the system as it allows them enjoy much of the possession, there is no denying it has denied them in some way.

In the Champions League final last season against Chelsea, Pep Guardiola was surely in need of a point man (a striker) as the game went on but the manager was reluctant as they had played most of the games without one before that night and recorded success and got used to it. He was concerned not to upset the plan but they were losing anyway.

Whilst he had Sergio Agüero and Gabriel Jesus on the bench, when he decided to bring them on, the game was already lost and their creator in chief, Kevin De Bruyne has been subbed off injured.

Liverpool appears to be in ferocious form of late, winning 20 of their last 24 games and even coming close to City in the race for the league title, when few months ago it looked as though it is a one horse race.

They've also won the Carabao Cup and are in the final of the FA Cup, of which they defeated Manchester City 3-2 at Wembley in the semi final. That win was the only time of the three the two has faced this season that a winner has emerged.

Gabriel Jesus has made vital contributions of late, in moments City can not afford any slip ups. Pep Guardiola should know it is better to build on his form so that he can be involved later in the season, when they got to the climax of it all.

Gabriel Jesus scores for Manchester City in a Premier League game against Liverpool at the Ethiad(Image: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

He has a good record against the big teams and his presence in the games can help create openings due to his movement on and off the ball, something only a striker does better and City's core of midfielders might not be great at doing.

The Citizens have some tough games coming up in the run in. In the league, they will face a Leeds United, whose survival is not certain and knowing they can not go toe to toe with City, they might decide to sit back and just absorb the pressure on their own turf just as they did against Crystal Palace on Monday night.

Wolverhampton Wonderers are also one of the defensive sides in their next games and a striker, who can create the opening with movement and positioning can help them break the lines and get their way to the points.

Aston Villa, West Ham United and the high-flying Newcastle United make up the remaining games for City in the league this season and anything but all 15 points might not be enough for them to defend their league title.

When they play the return leg of their Champions League semi final at the Bernabéu, Pep Guardiola surely has to call on Gabriel Jesus as Real Madrid will be looking to attack in their own backyard, the presence of the Brazilian will give them a lot to worry about at the back. Sometimes it takes only a striker to do a striker's job.

His record against Real Madrid also makes him a sure pick. The former Palmeiras teenager has scored three and registered one assist in his last three games against Madrid, which included a goal in each game and a massive contribution at the Bernabéu in 2020 to help them reach the quarter finals.

Should they see of Real Madrid and reach the final of the competition, which will make it a consecutive final, Pep Guardiola should know that the impact of Jesus in big games makes him one of the first few to be considered for selection.

Moreso if they will be playing Liverpool in the final, Jesus has managed a goal contribution in each of his last five games against The Reds.

Adding all these to his current form, he could help thenl defending Champions retain their league crown and add the missing flair in last season’s Champions League final to secure the club deliver their first ever Champions League success.

Whether or not City will sign Haaland and Jesus will leave in the summer is still to be known but for now, Jesus is City's man and man on form, and City should play their part to see him finish the season strong, so help can also help them achieve their goal.

Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi