Brazil national team coach Tite has admitted that he believes that Roberto Firmino is a better forward than Gabriel Jesus at this moment in time.
Firmino is expected to serve as Brazil’s first-choice forward for the upcoming friendly internationals against the United States and El Salvador.
Jesus served as the first-choice forward for the Selecao during the 2018 World Cup and failed to find the back of the net despite having played in all five of Brazil’s games before they were eliminated during the quarter-finals by Belgium during their time in Russia.
Jesus came under scathing criticism for his performances during the World Cup and has not even been included in the squad for the upcoming friendly internationals. Many feel that Firmino should have served as first-choice forward for Brazil during the World Cup and he can consider himself very unlucky to have been restricted to substitute appearances.
The Liverpool man would easily walk into the starting xi’s of most nation’s.
Firmino along with Sadio Mane and Mo Salah was phenomenal for Liverpool last season so he definitely does deserve his break with Brazil. Despite his heroics from last season, Firmino has yet to find the back of the net for the Reds as yet this season.
Liverpool fans will have to hope that he can score while on duty and get some confidence which will positively impact upon his club performances.
Firmino has been joined in the Brazil squad by his Liverpool team-mates Alisson and Fabinho. Alisson will probably start in goal as Tite’s regular first-choice shot-stopper Manchester City’s Ederson was left out of the squad, presumably to get some rest.
As quoted by Selecao Brasilei on Twitter, Tite said: “Firmino is better at constructing plays, Gabriel works on offering more depth. Pedro has a different technique and physique, he’s a classical 9. They are players for the same function but with different characteristics.”
