Jack Grealish: Man City boss Pep Guardiola challenges forward to win first team place
2025-02-10
Category: sports

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has challenged "street fighter" Jack Grealish to prove him wrong.England forward Grealish has been eased out of Guardiola's first-choice line-up this season, even though City have struggled at times.The form of Brazilian wide man Savinho has been one reason. With Norwegian Oscar Bobb returning from injury and Â£63m January arrival Omar Marmoush also settling in, now there is even more competition for the former Aston Villa player.Grealish impressed in the FA Cup win at Leyton Orient on Saturday, creating the 79th-minute winner for Kevin de Bruyne. It was his first start since victory in the previous round against League Two Salford. 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."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 Â£100m, Grealish is one of the most expensive British players of all time. However, after playing a leading role in City's 2022-23 Treble-winning campaign, the 29-year-old's influence has waned.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."Meanwhile, Guardiola says he hopes midfielder Nico Gonzalez will be fit to face Real at the Etihad Stadium.The Â£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."