Jack Grealish has found life tough at Manchester City this season with his campaign littered by injuries but the England star is hoping to end it on a high with two trophies still to play for
Jack Grealish says he relishes being booed by rival fans – because it helps to bring out the best in him.
England and Manchester City star Grealish has become a target of abuse for away fans whenever he plays for Pep Guardiola’s champions. While the boo-boys think they are putting Grealish off his game, the 28-year-old winger says it does not faze him at all, claiming it has the reverse effect.
Grealish aims to have the last laugh on his abusers today by helping City beat Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final to take another step towards a domestic double.
“Getting booed doesn’t bother me one bit,” said Grealish, ahead of today’s Wembley showdown. “I like it. I feel good, I feel fit and I feel like I’m playing with good confidence.
“Hopefully I can bring that into the end of the season. We’ve still got a lot to play for, a lot of games. There’s a Premier League and an FA Cup to play for, so the season is nowhere near over yet. I still feel like I’ve got a big part to play.
“Last year, obviously we won the Treble, then the Super Cup and the Club World Cup. This year, if we win the Premier League and the FA Cup, it would be a hugely successful season.”
City’s hopes of a repeat of last season’s Treble were dashed with Wednesday’s agonising Champions League quarter-final exit to Real Madrid on penalties.
But Guardiola’s players have the chance to get back to winning ways by beating Mauricio Pochettino’s side to book their place in the FA Cup final.
Grealish believes the tie against Chelsea is the perfect opportunity for City to unleash their frustration over their European exit.
“It’s never nice to go out on penalties,” said Grealish. “Luckily enough for us, we’ve got another game within three days where we can go and put it right.
“Sometimes it’s better when you can put it right straight away, rather than waiting and dwelling on it for a couple of weeks. It’s another massive game, the perfect one for us to put it right.”
By his own admission, Grealish suffered a hangover – on and off the field – following City’s Treble success, a loss of form and confidence compounded by a series of injuries this season.
Grealish acknowledged those difficulties and hit back at claims he does not score enough goals – just three this season – to justify the £100million City paid Aston Villa for him.
“It’s been difficult, especially on the back of last year, when I had such a good season,” said Grealish. “I was playing a lot and was one of the main players.
“At the start of the season I had a dead leg which kept me out for a month. I don’t think my form was the best and I wasn’t playing with a lot of confidence.
“In the new year, I had a few injuries again as well with my groin. But I feel fit and I feel like I’m playing with good confidence. I still feel like I’ve got a big part to play.
“City obviously bought me for £100m, but I don’t think in one season I ever got more than eight goals. So it shows they weren’t buying me to become Erling Haaland and become this crazy goalscorer.
“Obviously I want to score more. But I think City know how much I offer in other different areas.
“Nowadays, everyone loves to talk about goals and assists. It’s annoying, because you can have a brilliant game and not get a goal or an assist and they say ‘Ah, he didn’t do this or that’.
“Then you can score two tap-ins at the back post, not play well and everyone’s like ‘Ah, he’s brilliant’. But at the moment, I feel good and I feel confident.”
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