Manchester City are represented in the latest Premier League team of the week that has been selected by BBC pundit Garth Crooks.
Actually Garth is now down as a ‘Football Analyst’ these days, a posh term for a pundit then!
The performance by Gabriel Jesus in the two one victory over Leicester City at the weekend at The Etihad Stadium was enough to earn them a place in the side alongside the other, in the opinion of the former Spurs striker anyway, most impressive performers in the topflight over the latest weekend.
I think we’ll already know ourselves, and not just based on the latest performance, why Crooks, we’ll also not argue with it, selected Jesus as part of his team but explaining his choice he told the BBC.
‘I could not believe my eyes when Gabriel Jesus took the ball and insisted that he was going to take the penalty against Leicester on Saturday. Like every decent senior professional, who sees the next generation with the confidence to take command of a situation, Yaya Toure gave way to youth. Why shouldn’t the twice former African player of the year be magnanimous in such circumstances? When you have had the sort of career Toure has had, the least he can be is gracious. Regardless, Jesus seemed absolutely determined to make a statement. Sitting on the bench, of course, was Sergio Aguero, a world-class striker, even by Alan Shearer’s standards. It was clear to see Jesus had to make the point to Aguero and manager Pep Guardiola that he is ready to assume the mantle of top dog. Putting the ball into the back of the net was tantamount to making that point. What was interesting was the way Toure and his team-mates gathered round Jesus to congratulate him on converting the penalty almost like a graduation moment. The players were not entirely sure he would pass the test but mighty relieved that he did. Based on what I saw it looks like, Jesus might be the future and Aguero the past.’
It’s always good to see the club represented in this way, and well played to Jesus for his recognition, but the most important thing about the weekend was of course the points.
Full Team:
Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea), Kyle Naughton (Swansea City), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), David Luiz (Chelsea), Victor Moses (Chelsea), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool), Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspur), Ross Barkley (Everton), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal)
