To help celebrate another memorable campaign, which yielded our sixth Premier League trophy, we take a closer look at the contributions of our City stars.
It was a true team effort with every player producing a significant impact. Today, we analyse the influence of our Brazilian striker…
Season stats
Appearances (all competitions): 41
Goals: 13
Assists: 12
Premier League appearances: 28
Cumulative minutes: 2,570
Season highlight
The Brazilian’s importance to the City cause was evident once again across the course of the 2021/22 campaign.
There were a host of standout individual displays from the 25-year-old but it’s fair to say one game in particular carried extra special significance for the striker.
Jesus was at his predatory, instinctive best in April’s decisive 5-1 home win against Watford, registering a superb four-goal haul and along the way pocketing a first-ever Premier League hat-trick.
On a glorious late Spring afternoon at the Etihad, Jesus put City ahead inside four minutes when he turned in Oleksandr Zinchenko‘s driven cross, then quickly doubled our lead when he headed home a precise Kevin De Bruyne delivery.
Though Hassane Kamara narrowed the deficit for the Hornets, Jesus then demonstrated he can be a creator too, setting up Rodri as the Spaniard powered home a thunderous shot to restore our two-goal advantage.
And Jesus wasn’t finished there.
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The Brazilian then powered home a 49th minute penalty after he was felled by Watford keeper Ben Foster to seal a magnificent maiden Premier League treble.
And a fabulous all-round display was then rounded off four minutes later when Jesus latched onto another trademark De Bruyne through ball before finishing in style.
It was Jesus at his free-flowing, instinctive best.
Overview
Amongst the many plaudits and shining testimonials to come Jesus’s way, perhaps the most telling is that the 2021/22 season helped remind everyone that the bigger the game, the more Jesus relishes and revels in the occasion.
Time and again, he was entrusted to help shape the outcome of significant matches where so much was at stake.
Jesus it was who struck the all-important winner when we secured a defining 1-0 win at high-flying Chelsea last September.
The impressive Stamford Bridge victory not only sent out a message to the rest of the top flight about City’s desire to retain our Premier League crown but was one which also saw manager Pep Guardiola establish a new record of 221 wins as Club manager.
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Jesus also began in our pulsating 2-2 draw away at Liverpool the following month, with his mazy second half run and astute pass setting up Phil Foden for City’s opener in an Anfield classic.
Likewise, he was again part of the starting eleven in the equally compelling Etihad 2-2 draw with Jurgen Klopp’s side in mid-April, converting City’s second goal in superb fashion late in the first half with a finish of the highest quality.
And Jesus was again on the scoresheet as he began our remarkable Champions League semi-final first leg at home to Real Madrid which ended in a 4-3 victory.
Alongside his undoubted quality and composure on the biggest of stages, Jesus’ flexibility and willingness to play where best fits the needs of the team again underscored his all-round contribution.
The very epitome of a team player, he once again illustrated just why he has been such an important part of City’s collective success over the past five years.
What they said
Bernardo Silva: “Gabriel Jesus is in fantastic shape. He scored four goals last weekend, on Tuesday another one.
“He is a great player and he deserves the best for the way he trains and plays for the team.
“With his talent, his attitude to helping the team is admirable.
“He is one of our most important players.”
Pep Guardiola: “If one person, one player deserves the best, it is Gabriel.
“He runs for everyone and when he scores, I am the happiest man.
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“He can play in the three positions upfront and he does it really well.”
“We know from the past in the duels how aggressive they are, but you have to handle it at this level,” said Pep.
“Gabriel goes down, gets up and tries again. He’s a young player and one of the best signings we have done in this period together.”
