Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has stated the reasons that England midfielder Jack Grealish would return to the Manchester City starting lineup after an inconsistent time in and out of the team.
The 28-year-old midfielder started 41 matches for City in last season’s Treble-winning campaign; he also played in the FA Cup and Champions League finals. However, he’s dropped in appearances for the Sky Blue Stars this season, having started just 19 games, with seven of them coming in the Premier League.
For the Spanish manager, nothing has changed with Grealish, but his performances have not impressed him, and he will need to work on himself as a player.
“He is the same player, he has the same manager, and the way we play has not changed; it’s just the way he has performed. That’s the difference. I said from day one, we need him. He has a special quality for our team. But it depends on him. Hopefully he can do a good last three months. I cannot give players three or four games to get their rhythm. They have to find the rhythm to play for 20 minutes or 90. At a high level, the team don’t wait to be fit. You cannot give someone three or four games to be fit. What about the 10 who don’t play? Do they deserve not to play? You have to see the training sessions and all the small details. The players don’t have to convince me. They have to convince themselves that they deserve to play.” he said.
Grealish joined Manchester City from Aston Villa in 2021 for £100 million, and while he was heavily involved for Manchester City last season, his game time has greatly decreased.
He scored three goals and one assist in fourteen Premier League games this season, compared to five goals and seven assists in 28 Premier League games last season.
His last appearance for Manchester City was on the 12th of February in the UEFA Champions League against FC Copenhagen in Denmark, playing just 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, Manchester City secured a victory over Luton Town with a final score of 6-2 in the FA Cup fifth-round match. Erling Haaland scored 5 goals, four of which were assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
Daniel Ademiju Idowu
