Manchester City’s ability to handle pressure made the “difference” in last season’s title race, according to Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus.
The ex- City star, who made the switch to the Emirates last year, says his former team’s experience of winning titles played a pivotal role in them finishing above the Gunners:
“It’s difficult to know (where we fell short) but I believe sometimes at the end of the season, we were a little bit nervous as a team. They were not nervous as normally they win so that made a difference. This season we have experience of this and it will be different.”
“They (Man City) are together years and that made a difference. Winning for years made a difference also. The year I arrived (at Arsenal) I believed we could fight and win. Unfortunately, we didn’t win but I think we will win, for sure.”
There was a lot of talk about Arsenal’s resolve during the title run-in, and some even predicted that Mikel Arteta’s side wouldn’t buckle under the pressure that City were exerting. However, Jesus’s admission clearly shows that they were not fully prepared to go toe-to-toe with their title rivals.
City are losing some of their experienced players this summer
With captain Ilkay Gundogan having left for Barcelona, Kyle Walker seemingly poised to make a move to Bayern Munich, and Riyad Mahrez on the verge of joining Al Ahli, City’s squad will certainly have a different look to it when the new season starts next month.
Bringing in replacements, who don’t have the same experience of winning titles year after year, doesn’t come without its risks, but you would hope that players (such as Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson and Ruben Dias) that remain, can instill the same winning mentality on those who have recently signed for the Premier League champions.
