Jack Grealish is reaching a new low at Manchester City. Coach Pep Guardiola reacts meaningfully, but also irritably to the person. The future of the record man is more open than ever.
Then the technology had to suffer. Pep Guardiola reacted increasingly irritably to repeated inquiries about Jack Grealish, literally worked himself into a rage – and finally knocked over a microphone set up in front of him with a hand movement.
The Grealish personnel issue was the defining topic surrounding Manchester City’s last game. The non-consideration of the midfield star pushed the sporting events in the 2-0 win at FC Fulham and the guaranteed qualification for the Champions League into the background.
Jack Grealish is mainly a reservist at Manchester City
“In the past one or two months, five or six players have not been in the squad every time. This time I chose these guys. That’s all it is. I have nothing against them,” Guardiola emphasized at the press conference. “It’s nothing personal. I have no problem with the players.”
Grealish is stuck in a slump
But Grealish in particular is becoming more and more of a concern. The fact that there was no place in the Citizens’ squad for the 29-year-old on Sunday is a new low point in his months-long slump. Grealish had sat on the bench for 90 minutes in the FA Cup final defeat against Crystal Palace a week earlier.
“Of course Jack has to play. That is the truth,” said Guardiola. “Jack is an incredible player who has to play football every three days. That wasn’t the case this season, not last season either. And he has to do that either with us or somewhere else.”
The question of whether that meant Grealish would leave in the summer followed promptly. “I said: With us or somewhere else!” Guardiola repeated. “But that’s the question for Jack, his advisor and the club.”
The downfall of the “100 million pound man”
The label “100 million pound man” still weighs heavily on Grealish’s shoulders. With the converted almost 120 million euros that City transferred to Aston Villa for his commitment in 2021, he is still by far the record transfer of the Skyblues.
But Grealish is less and less meeting the high expectations. In the Triple season 2022/23, the dribbling artist was still one of the key players with five goals and eleven assists, with his party marathon he then determined the headlines.
Since then he has been running behind his form on the lawn. He was unable to confirm his strong performances in the previous season either. In the Premier League he only scored three goals of the season, plus a meager assist. His playing times decreased accordingly.
EM elimination a heavy blow
The fact that England’s then national coach Gareth Southgate then waived his services at the European Championship 2024 was not a surprise given his lack of form – but a heavy blow for Grealish himself.
“I was inconsolable,” said 39-time national player later. It was the most difficult thing in his career as a footballer that he had to deal with.
His over 16-month goal drought ended emotionally in March. At the beginning of April, Grealish scored in the 2-0 win against Leicester City – on the anniversary of the death of his brother, who died in 2000 at the age of just nine months.
“This day is always difficult for the family, but I’m glad I scored a goal.”
Grealish only part-time force at ManCity
It remained his only league goal this season. Grealish was also in the starting eleven for the only time this calendar year against Leicester. Over the entire season, he only ran from the start seven times in the Premier League.
Guardiola has defended Grealish again and again in the past. “I am the one who fought for him to come here and the one who fought for him to stay here this season and last season,” said the Catalan.
Pep Guardiola in conversation with Jack Grealish
But the non-consideration on Sunday, the Telegraph already evaluated in advance as an indication that Grealish’s future at City is increasingly questionable despite a current contract until 2027.
Guardiola’s patience seems to be running out gradually
When a journalist then introduced his question to Guardiola on the PK by saying that he had said he was not satisfied with Grealish, the City coach became clear: “Who said I was not satisfied with him? Did I say with my words that I am not satisfied with him?”
He said Grealish had not played in the past games, Guardiola clarified. “If he stays, everything is fine,” Guardiola said. “He will fight, as he has done from day one, to make his contribution.”
It is hard to believe that this will be great in the future. After all, Grealish’s search for form has been going on for quite some time. And Guardiola’s patience seems to be running out gradually.