Shaun Goater tips Gabriel Jesus and Phil Foden to shine for Manchester City
Former Manchester City striker Shaun Goater has tipped Phil Foden and Gabriel Jesus to shine for the club next season, despite the duo finding themselves on the fringes of the squad this campaign.
Brazilian striker Jesus endured a frustrating period during the early part of the season as he went 11 league games without scoring, finding the net just once in the Premier League before the end of December.
Goater, who scored over 100 goals for City in his five years with the the Citizens, admits the 22-year-old has not been at his best the season but backs him to challenge Sergio Aguero for a starting place next term.
Talking on Yahoo Sport UK’s The Football Show, he said: “When I think if Gabriel Jesus, I think he’s the only one in the Manchester City team this season that hasn’t been right on form. When he first came to the team he was scoring goals, and I was like wow there’s some serious competition between him and Aguero. So I think there’s more to come from him.
“We can see the qualities he has but he hasn’t been as consistent this season, I think there is more to come from him next season.”
He added: “I think Aguero has been exceptional, but Jesus went through a period without scoring and thats unbelievable to think... in the Man City team because they create eight or nine chances a game.
“Your strikers normally end up with two or three of those chances and the fact that he went that long without scoring is quite amazing but I think he will come good and I think he will push Aguero next season and get himself in and around 20 league goals.”
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When asked whether 18-year-old Foden should look for regular football elsewhere like former City player Jadon Sancho, who moved to Germany to play for Borussia Dortmund and has excelled in the Bundesliga, Goater explained: “Who plays every week?
“You look at Sergio Aguero, does he play every week? Manchester City players play somewhere around 33 games as opposed to playing 40 to 45 games if you’re talking about all competitions, they look at the work load of the players.
“At this moment in time, it’s right that Phil is getting the number of games he is, but he is going to want to play more games. But he’s actually playing for the best team in the country. I think right now for Phil, things are just right.”
Pep Guardiola’s side are still locked in a title battle with Liverpool with just two games left in the league season.
City lead Liverpool by just one point and the 49-year-old Goater backs the City players to deal with the pressure they are under and claim their fourth Premier League triumph.
He said: “There is pressure but the players signed up for this, these are the games that matter, to finish these last few games and become champions this is where they want to be.
“They’re excited, but they will keep clam heads as well.”
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