Pep Guardiola is faced with a real striker dilemma
With the opening match of the season just days away, Pep Guardiola will be piecing together his starting eleven for a crunch match at Emirates Stadium.
And perhaps his biggest headache is in one of the most crucial positions. The Catalan manager has to choose between Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero for the striker spot, assuming he will use only one of the stars.
His go-to formation last term was the effective 4-3-3, and Aguero’s mid-season injury opened the door for Jesus. The Brazilian has since signed a fresh contract committing his future to the club, and hence expects to be a regular feature in Guardiola’s side.
However, Aguero proved his significance in the City team as recently as Sunday, picking up where he left off and, in turn, notching his 200th goal for the club.
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The Argentine is irrefutably Manchester City’s greatest servant. He has been reliable every season, and is a surefire bet for consistent goals.
But Jesus’ new deal, as well as his role in the City side, means that Aguero will certainly face fierce competition this term.
Sergio Aguero is expected to be the starter on Sunday, with two of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling or Riyad Mahrez to bolster the attack, however Guardiola may opt for the more youthful Jesus.
Whether Guardiola is going to alternate the strikers in the Premier League, or utilise each in a different competition is yet to be seen. However the way the Catalan sets his team up, means that there surely isn’t room for both forwards in the lineup.
Hopefully the valiant battle between the two for regular game time sparks them to improve each other. Gabriel Jesus is still waiting for an eye-opening campaign at Etihad Stadium, while Aguero has endeared himself to the fans and is likely to forge another superb goalscoring season.
Who should start in the striker’s position on Sunday?