Gabriel Jesus believes he was playing some of the best football of his career just before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the game.
The Manchester City striker has been battling club legend Sergio Aguero for a regular starting position since he moved to the Etihad Stadium from Palmeiras three years ago.
Jesus was a surprise starter ahead of Aguero in the Champions League clash with Real Madrid and scored the equaliser in a 2-1 victory as City produced arguably their best ever result in the competition.
“I think I have had a good streak, good minutes on the pitch, I started in some important matches, such as against Real Madrid in the Champions League,” the 23-year-old told Goal . “It helps any player to perform better, play more, be happy. I think I had one of my best moments for City before the break.
“Pep [Guardiola] usually does this; sometimes I play the cup games and 'Kun' the Premier League or the opposite. So when I knew I was going to play I saw it naturally.
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“Of course I was happy, every player dreams of playing in a match of this magnitude, against Real at the Bernabeu. I’m glad it went well, I helped the team and we managed to win.”
Jesus has admitted to being tough on himself in the past, particularly when going through a goalscoring drought. After moving to England as a teenager, he now believes he can cope better with the tougher times in his career.
“It is a process of maturation, of evolution as a person and as a player,” the Brazilian said. “I went through a very difficult period in my short career, but I managed to get back to doing what I liked most, being happy again.
“Having my family and friends close also helped me a lot at the time, and then I started to live a very positive sequence that lasts until today.”
Guardiola went for an adventurous system in Madrid, starting without a central striker, with Jesus playing primarily in the left wing position and cutting inside when City were on the attack.
The system worked well and Jesus says he is happy to fit in with whatever the City boss demands.
“I always played as a side striker who enters the area a lot, since Palmeiras I've been like that and I feel very good and comfortable acting like that,” he added.
“Of course I also play as a reference in the attack, more tucked inside the area, without any problem and I'm also used to it. But my position was always acting from the side.”
The Champions League remains the trophy that City want to win most after winning six of the last seven domestic trophies available, but Jesus says they don’t feel any extra pressure when they play in Europe.
“I think it’s hard to talk about pressure for a team that has won as many titles as ours in recent years,” he said. “We won the Premier League twice, we won the Carabao Cup, FA Cup - so I don't see we have the pressure to win a competition.
“But, of course, the Champions League is everyone's desire here. It is the main club tournament in the world and everyone wants to win it, it’s normal.”