Sports
Guardiola Challenges Grealish to Prove Him Wrong
- Guardiola challenges Grealish to fight for his place amid increased competition at Man City.
- Grealish impresses in FA Cup, providing a key assist in the win over Leyton Orient.
- Champions League showdown looms, but Grealish is likely to start on the bench against Real Madrid.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued a challenge to Jack Grealish, urging the “street fighter” to prove him wrong and reclaim his place in the squad.
The England forward has struggled for game time this season, finding himself edged out of Guardiola’s preferred starting XI despite City’s occasional inconsistencies. His diminished role has been influenced by the rise of Brazilian winger Savinho, while Norwegian talent Oscar Bobb’s return from injury and the £63 million January signing of Omar Marmoush have further intensified competition for places.
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Grealish delivered an impressive performance in City’s FA Cup victory over Leyton Orient on Saturday, setting up Kevin De Bruyne’s 79th-minute winner. It marked his first start since featuring in the previous round against League Two side Salford.
However, despite his recent impact, Grealish is expected to return to the bench for Tuesday’s high-stakes Champions League play-off first leg against Real Madrid.
“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.”
At £100m, Grealish remains one of the most expensive British players in history. However, after being instrumental in Manchester City’s Treble-winning campaign in 2022-23, the 29-year-old’s impact has diminished.
Guardiola has urged Grealish to replicate the energy he displayed in the comeback victory at Brisbane Road and insists that the increased competition should not deter him.
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“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.”
Meanwhile, Guardiola says he hopes midfielder Nico Gonzalez will be fit to face Real at the Etihad Stadium.
The £50m deadline day signing from Porto was injured in the build-up to Leyton Orient’s stunning opener.
“I hope so but I don’t know,” said Guardiola, when asked about Gonzalez’s chances of being available. “The kick was strong but we have time so we will see.”
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