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Manchester City: Guardiola should forget about pairing Jesus and Aguero together

By Craig Pearson

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: Gabriel Jesus of Manchester City celebrates scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Swansea City at Etihad Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: Gabriel Jesus of Manchester City celebrates scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Swansea City at Etihad Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) /
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Pep Guardiola has a nice problem brewing at Manchester City, with Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero both competing for the starting striker role. However, Guardiola needs to ignore the pleas to play them together as a partnership.

Gabriel Jesus soon made an impact at Manchester City. It only took an eight-minute substitute appearance and a few training sessions before the Brazilian was ahead of Sergio Aguero as the club’s new number one striker.

But now Pep Guardiola has to figure out what happens to Aguero with Jesus leading the line. The answer in some quarters has been to play the duo together as a pairing. Recent reports have even stated that Guardiola is considering playing the two together against Bournemouth on Monday.

However, it’s an idea the City boss needs to ignore for now. Could the two ultimately work as a pairing? Maybe. It’s complicated, but maybe. But City don’t have time for experiments anyway in the middle of an intense race for a top four finish.

Manchester City are in a fight, and given the recent form of the Citizens with Jesus upfront, Guardiola needs to stay on that path. Especially given the club’s next game is away from home at Bournemouth. The Cherries have been solid this season, and if City are not on their game, things could get awkward.

If Guardiola is to experiment with the pair, then do it at home. Preferably against a team towards the bottom of the standings. After Bournemouth, it’s an away FA Cup clash against Huddersfield Town.

Must Read: Why Sergio Aguero is a bad fit under Guardiola

Jesus will presumably be rested for that game, with Monaco coming up in the Champions League just three days later. Then after that it’s Sunderland away back in the Premier League. Before a home game against Stoke City thereafter. Maybe that’s the game to experiment a little?

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Then again, what for? City’s next four games will be Monaco, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea. Is Guardiola going to play two strikers in games like those? Doubtful. So why even go down that particular road?

Aguero just doesn’t do what Guardiola wants of his striker. Different players bring different attributes to the table, and Guardiola is looking for more of a Jesus than an Aguero. Playing them together just feels like Aguero is being shoehorned in because he’s Aguero. Not because he actually fits.

Guardiola never plays with two strikers high up the pitch. So does Aguero play out wide? Why? He’s not a winger. He’s a specialist striker. Jesus is more versatile and could play out wide. But then the team loses the pressing, aggression, selfless link-up play and assists that Jesus brings as the team’s focal point.

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Playing Aguero and Jesus together probably is a situation worth trying, but only because of the exceptional quality of both players. But what Guardiola needs is the right situation before trying them together. That situation isn’t arriving any time soon.

For now, Guardiola needs to forget about playing Jesus and Aguero as a pairing.

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