Guardiola challenges Jesus after Man City star's mother returns to Brazil

Pep Guardiola claims Gabriel Jesus must cope now his mum has returned home to Brazil.

Jesus is very close to Vera Lucia, who raised him and his three brothers on her own, and scored seven goals in his four starts for Manchester City while she was staying with him.

She has gone back to the family home in São Paulo and Guardiola is confident the 21-year-old Brazil striker can handle living on his own again.

“The players know they are in an incredible club who try to take care of all of us, all the people working in this organisation,” said the City boss.

“The private life is the private life and if they need something we are there, we are there to help.

“But of course, we cannot substitute the mother and when the family can’t be there, it’s difficult.

“They have to handle the situation and, of course, he’s not alone, he has friends. He has an incredible relationship with the Brazilian guys, like Danilo, Fernandinho, Bernardo, many, many players here.

“I think it won’t be a problem for the next months.”

Guardiola claims it is important to make sure the players are happy in their personal lives because they will perform better.

“When we are happy in our lives, we are better in our jobs,” said the Catalan.

“Sometimes we will judge the players and sometimes we really don’t know what is happening in their private lives. It’s a big influence, week by week or game by game.

“You have to try to help them by doing all you can do, and tell them we are here. So any time when you have any problems it can happen, we are going to try and help.

“In the case of Gabriel, it’s like this. Beyond that I don’t know what we should do.”