Gabriel Jesus refused to be drawn on reports that he has decided to leave Manchester City this summer as he vowed to be ready to help the team win the Premier League and Champions League.
Jesus scored four goals in City’s win over Watford, which took them four points clear of Liverpool in the league ahead of their Merseyside derby with Everton on Sunday. It was a superb individual performance from the Brazilian, who woke up to reports suggesting he wanted to leave City this summer.
However, Jesus told reporters after the game that his only focus at the minute is being ready and focussed to help City with their aims of winning silverware in the Premier League and in Europe.
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“Not time to think about this,” he said. “You expect me to say this and it’s true. Not time to think about this, now is the best moment of the season.
“I want to enjoy it, keep focussed on my teammates to fight for the Premier League. I’ve won with my teammates three times already so I know how it feels and I want to again. We have a tough game on Tuesday against Real Madrid, a tough opponent. That’s my focus.”
However, Jesus did discuss his playing time and favoured positions — two factors reportedly behind his transfer stance.
Regarding his playing time in Pep Guardiola’s rotation system, he said: “It’s not just me, the players. If you ask the players about playing everyone wants to play. Since I arrive here I play a lot, know what I expect but I know we have very good players who can play every game.
“Not just me, Riyad, Raz [Sterling], Grealish who arrives now who sees how it is here. We have a lot of good strikers and winger, everyone wants to play and that's the challenge to keep focussed and when you get an opportunity try to do your best.
“I’ll play as a straight [central] player, I can go there, upfront, run everywhere and try to fight, regain the ball, attack. I think this is my quality. I play on the streets until I was 15, arrive at Palmeiras at 15. I learn a lot from that, there I play like this. Sometimes I put videos I’m running everywhere and that’s my quality.
“I’m happy because I have the confidence from the manager and from the players. When I start, Riyad starts, Raz, Phil, Grealish, Bernardo upfront, Gundo. We try our best. We have the experience, I’m still young but the last five to six years I play a little bit tough in big games.
“I know I can play [versus Real Madrid] but sometimes the manager tries another player and I try to keep focussed when I get the chance.”
