Manchester City boss finally realizes the obvious truth

BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Josep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City looks on prior to the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City at Vitality Stadium on August 26, 2017 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26: Josep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City looks on prior to the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City at Vitality Stadium on August 26, 2017 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

Manchester City have plenty of talent in their attack

Pep Guardiola may be one of the best managers in football, but it took him quite a long time to understand something most fans already knew about Manchester City. The Spanish gaffer didn’t need to spend countless hours trying to add a striker to his squad this summer. He already had two prolific forwards in his squad.

For whatever reason, Guardiola was very hesitant to include both Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus in his starting XI after the Brazilian’s arrival at City. As such, he worked very hard to add a powerful centre forward to his squad this summer. In the end, that proved to be a fool’s errand.

City weren’t able to sign any of their top striking targets. Until recently, that was a source of extreme consternation for Guardiola. After his team’s 5-0 massacre of Liverpool, it seems that the stylish manager has finally realized that Aguero and Jesus can be the deadly duo to lead his line. It’s a conclusion that most fans came to months ago.

It’s a bit embarrassing that Guardiola didn’t realize this sooner. Both Jesus and Aguero have proven they can be deadly Premier League strikers. The idea that the two might coexist in the same lineup isn’t brain surgery.

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Admittedly, it might be slightly preferable to pair one of them with a more powerful centre forward. The idea of allowing one of the pacy stars to play off an aerial threat is quite intriguing. Ironically, someone like Diego Costa might be the ideal partner for either of them. Unfortunately for Guardiola and City, those sorts of players don’t exactly grow on trees.

Being “forced’ to play Aguero and Jesus together is a terrific consolation prize. Opposing defenses will have nightmares about tracking both players’ movement at once. When you throw their skills in with City’s high-priced midfield you easily form one of England’s most formidable attacks. It isn’t a group that you’d back in a bar room brawl, but it’s a group capable of playing truly exquisite football.

Next: Manchester City need Aguero to start scoring

Pep Guardiola’s recent epiphany will prove problematic for a plethora of Premier League defenses. Opposing managers will be forced to game plan for the deadly duo of Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus playing together for the foreseeable future.