Scout Report: Overlooked Jesus the perfect forward for Pep approach

While Manchester City managed to save some face with a win over Watford in midweek, after falling to a shock defeat at the hands of a struggling Leicester side at the weekend it wasn’t just their calamitous defending that drew criticism. Many were concerned when Aguero was handed a four match ban that Guardiola had insufficient options, and while Kelechi Iheanacho is undoubtedly a promising talent, he’s not of the calibre required to lead a title charge. 

The young Nigerian failed to muster a single shot at the King Power Stadium at the weekend, and it wasn’t until his second half withdrawal and the introduction of Nolito that City carried a significant threat up front. A rating of 6.03 was better only than that of John Stones in the Saturday evening kick-off, and while the 20-year old boasts an exceptional minutes per goal record in the top-flight, he’s a significant downgrade on Aguero and was dropped to be bench in Wednesday night. 

It’s led pundits and fans alike to question why City didn’t bolster their attacking ranks further in the summer, and while that’s a justifiable argument, there’s one glaring oversight in that regard. Whilst he may not be eligible to feature for the title hopefuls until next month, the addition of Gabriel Jesus - on the radar of almost every top club in the world prior to sealing a switch to the Etihad - should not be underestimated. 

While it’s true, then, that Guardiola will have to make do with what he’s got for now, the teenager will offer a genuinely quality alternative or indeed foil to Aguero once he arrives. 

Jesus’ talent is undeniable and while his figures in the Brasileirao were strong this season, one need only consider the impact he has had on the Brazilian national side to appreciate that. At a time when poster boy Neymar was carrying the weight of expectations of a football obsessed nation on his shoulders, Gabriel Jesus has emerged to share the load and forge a superb understanding with the Barcelona man, establishing himself as the undisputed first choice striker for one of the world's strongest national teams. 

Across 12 starts for the senior Selecao side and the victorious Olympic team the 19-year old has scored 8 goals. His record in the current World Cup qualifying campaign reads six starts, five goals and six wins to help transform the fortunes of a team that had hit arguably its lowest ebb as the host nation of the 2014 World Cup. His performances have led the country's greatest ever goalscorer, Pele, to claim that Jesus, and not Neymar, is currently the best player Brazil have at their disposal.  

That was certainly the consensus in the Brasileirao in the season gone by, with the City bound forward winning the Bola de Ouro (player of the year) and earning a strong WhoScored.com rating of 7.43. While tallies of 12 goals and 5 assists were relatively modest given his prodigious talent, with his form tailing off in the latter months of the season as his importance to the national side grew, at just 19 he was the decisive figure in Palmeiras’ title-winning campaign. 

He may not be the finished article - who is at such a tender age - but Jesus has all the right attributes to have an impact for Manchester City in the hear and now in Pep Guardiola’s system. His versatility will perhaps be the biggest asset to the Catalan, capable of leading the line, playing from wide or as a support striker. 

It is, however, his work rate from the front that is perhaps most refreshing given his ability, with young strikers often taking time to develop the defensive side of their game. That’s certainly not the case for Jesus, whose average of 1.5 tackles per game is the most of any player to start up front in the Brazilian league - doing so in 21 of 26 starts. A further 0.9 interceptions per game means that the teenager is deemed very strong when it comes to defensive contribution. 

That may not seem like a particularly necessary attribute for a forward in one of the strongest sides in the Premier League, but given Guardiola’s approach it could be pivotal. While his attention to the defensive side of City’s game has faced widescale criticism of late, there’s no secret to the manager’s ideologies in that sense, attempting to win the ball as high up the pitch as possible, just as he did with Barcelona and Bayern. The fact, then, that only one player won possession in the attacking third more times than Jesus in the Brasileirao last season will be a real positive for the under pressure boss. 

Having had some issues with Sergio Aguero's ability to act as the first line of defence upon his arrival in Eastlands, Jesus is the sort of player capable of freeing up the Argentinean to do what he does best. Whether or not we will see much of the South American pair in the same XI remains unclear, with the teenager earmarked as a potential replacement for Aguero should he be allowed to leave the club as has been suggested, but the fact that he can play in a front three or just off the striker offers Guardiola the sort of options that he is perhaps lacking. 

The manager, however, is already attempting to cool expectations of the incoming arrival, with compatriots Fernandinho and Fernando already handed the responsibility of helping the youngster bed into the side. "We are going to try and help him settle down in Manchester and in England as quick as possible because at 19 years old it is not easy." 

This isn't just any 19-year old, though. Gabriel Jesus is a teenager already worshipped by Brazil fans as the centre-forward that they've been waiting for since Ronaldo. He has experience of dealing with significant pressure, that's for sure, and that can only bode well for Manchester City as they bid to revive a title bid as well as compete for silverware in the Champions League and FA Cup. The arrival of Jesus will certainly help them do just that and while his signing may have been forgotten by some, he may be Guardiola's not so secret weapon before long.