The Manchester City boss revealed on Thursday that he does not know if Aguero will recover from the knee injury he suffered against Burnley in time for the resumption of our Champions League campaign.
It means Jesus will be thrust into the goal scoring spotlight as the solitary out and out striker for the crucial games against Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final and Real Madrid in the second leg of our last 16 European tie.
But Guardiola, who says the strikers’ different qualities provide the ideal scenario for a manager, feels it’s wrong to compare the Brazilian to the Club’s record goal scorer, when he has his own set of special attributes.
“No one can compare to Sergio, with what he has done in his career,” Pep explained ahead of City’s game against Southampton on Sunday.
“First, because he is older than Gabriel. It is perfect for us because they are complementary. What one guy has, the other one struggles.
“Gabriel has something unique in the world. He helps us to be more aggressive. He is a fighter. We have scored many goals in the last five games thanks to him.
“He is something special. It is unfair for all of us, to compare me as a manager to another one and to compare players.
“Every player is different. We have to adapt his qualities for the benefit of him and the team.”
City face Southampton just three days after a comprehensive 4-0 victory over Liverpool.
It was a superb attacking display against the Premier League champions and one that left Guardiola convinced his team will be able to recapture our best form in response to Liverpool’s challenge next season.
However, the 49-year-old reiterated that he is not yet thinking about the new campaign and right now, he remains focused on delivering success this season.
“The reality in the Premier League is we were not as a good as we were the previous two seasons,” he explained.
“We are better than 18 teams, but not better than one that destroyed the competition. Liverpool have done quite similar to what we have done in previous seasons.
“Now we have to recover our consistency that we missed this season.”
“That’s in the future. The present is to recover in three days, to prepare right for Wembley to play the semi-finals of the FA Cup, to try to retain the title.
“Next season will be next season. We have time to think about it.
“It is important when you beat opponents like Liverpool, the best team in England. To do it in that way gives us a message to our self that we can do it.
“That we can comeback like we were.”
