Grealish set a challenge by Pep to become a better player as his side enter a season-defining period starting tomorrow.
Grealish set a challenge to prove his manager Pep Guardiola wrong.
Despite City’s occasional struggles, England forward Grealish has been gradually removed from Guardiola’s starting lineup this season.
One of the reasons has been Savinho’s performance as a wide player for Brazil. The former Aston Villa player now faces even greater competition as Norwegian Oscar Bobb returns from injury and Omar Marmoush, a £63 million January transfer, settles in.
Grealish scored the game-winning goal for Kevin de Bruyne in the 79th minute of Saturday’s FA Cup victory over Leyton Orient. He had not started since defeating League Two Salford in the previous round.
He is likely to return to the bench for Tuesday’s crucial Champions League play-off first leg against Real Madrid at home.
“Jack has this sense of the street,” said Guardiola. “He is a player of the street.
“Today most of the players, for a manager, are academic – ‘you have to do this or that’. Jack is a fighter. He is there to fight in the stadiums when the people shout.
“He didn’t play the last games, mainly because Savinho on the left side had an incredible connection with Erling (Haaland) but the season is still open.
“But against Orient I saw the glimpse that he is going to rebel, to show the manager how wrong he is. I love that.”
Grealish is among the priciest British players of all time, costing £100 million. But the 29-year-old’s impact has diminished after he was instrumental in City’s 2022–2023 Treble-winning campaign.
Guardiola feels Grealish shouldn’t be deterred by the increased competition and wants to see more of the displays he gave in the comeback victory at Brisbane Road.
“Players have to understand it is not new contracts that makes them better, it is the competition in the locker room and on the pitch,” he said.
“They have to feel they have to fight with Savinho and with (Jeremy) Doku. Phil (Foden) can play there as well. That is the point.
“In the end, it is about performance and delivering assists and goals.”