Jesus not happy Guardiola picked Mahrez to take penalty

Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus said he was not happy with Pep Guardiola’s decision not to allow him to take the late penalty against Premier League rivals Liverpool.

City manager Guardiola prevented Jesus from taking the 86th-minute spot-kick, instead opting for club-record signing Riyad Mahrez, who fired his effort over the bar as the champions drew 0-0 at Anfield on Sunday.

Guardiola apologised to Jesus afterwards and the 21-year-old Brazil international insisted he felt confident to take the penalty.

“Obviously I’m not that happy,” he told reporters. “As Riyad, I’ve been practicing [penalties].

“I would like to have taken it. I was confident, so I was not happy that they did not allow me. However, it was important that we didn’t lose. Pep spoke with me.

“This is part of football, sometimes these things happen. I will support Riyad if the manager chooses him again.”

Jesus has struggled for form since the World Cup, having scored just once in the Premier League this season – against Huddersfield Town in August.