Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has challenged England international Jack Grealish to prove him wrong.
Despite Manchester City struggling for consistency this season, Grealish has eased out of Guardiola’s first-choice line-up with the Spaniard preferring Brazilian wide man Savinho.
With Norwegian Oscar Bobb returning from injury and £63m January arrival Omar Marmoush also settling in, now there is even more competition for the former Aston Villa player.
However, Grealish impressed in the FA Cup win at Leyton Orient on Saturday, his first start since victory in the previous round against League Two Salford. He made use of the opportunity, creating the 79th-minute winner for Kevin de Bruyne.
Impressed by his performance, Guardiola believes Grealish still has lots of potential.
Jack Grealish looks to control the ball whilst under pressure from Jamie Donley of Leyton Orient during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
“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 is one of the most expensive British players of all time, however, the chances are he will be back on the bench for Tuesday’s blockbuster Champions League play-off first leg at home to Real Madrid.
Guardiola wants to see more of the performances he produced in the comeback win at Brisbane Road and says Grealish should not be put off by the added competition.
“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.”
