MANCHESTER CITY Q&A: Our Chief Sports Writer Andy Dunn answers YOUR questions on what lies ahead for Jack Grealish after his manager said that he wanted the player who won the Treble back to his best
If the statistics tell their own sorry story of Jack Grealish’s struggles at Manchester City, the words of Pep Guardiola after the win over West Ham United were even more damning.
“Savinho is in better shape and everything than Jack. Is there anyone in this room who thinks Savinho doesn’t deserve to play right now? No. I want the Jack that won the Treble? Yeah, I want it.”
Since winning that Treble, Grealish’s numbers for City have been alarming, to say the least. Last season, he scored three goals and provided three assists in 36 appearances across all competitions.
This season, he has yet to score and has made two assists in 19 appearances. He last scored for City on December 16, 2023. So, what now for Grealish after Guardiola’s damning words?
Was Pep Guardiola wrong to call out Jack Grealish?
This feels like something close to the last throw of the dice from Guardiola in his attempts to rejuvenate Grealish. He has tried showing Grealish a lot of love and affection and has been patient with him during some niggling physical issues.
But by saying he wants the Grealish of the Treble season to return, Guardiola is publicly announcing that the player’s standards have slipped. Pep’s right to call him out because he wants Grealish to read his comments and react positively. The manager has nothing to lose.
Isn’t it Guardiola’s job to get the best out of him?
Most definitely and it has become a very commonly-held opinion to believe Guardiola has drummed the creativity out of Grealish, that he has curbed his sense of adventure, that he has turned a maverick into an automaton, that he has replaced his unpredictability with predictability. All that might be true – but only to a certain extent.
When he plays, there is a certain role for Grealish to perform but, within that role, there is scope for him to shine, to be far more inventive than he has been over the past year or so. In the same role, others have shown more flair so it is not all Pep’s fault.
Do you think Grealish has a future at Manchester City?
It could depend on the future of Pep Guardiola. Don’t assume Guardiola’s new deal – which, in theory, takes him until the summer of 2027 – means he will definitely be at City next season. But the likelihood is that Pep is going to be around for a good while and that will strengthen the spotlight on Grealish’s future at the club.
Grealish is a very popular figure at the club and there is a general will for him and Pep to make it work, plus the pair get on well. But there is a suspicion the spark between the two has gone.
Should he look for a move elsewhere?
Yes. Well, at least Grealish and his advisers should be exploring the possibility of a move – and exploring it with some vigour. The problem, of course, as ever, is finding the right move, finding a club willing to pay him the sort of wages he enjoys at City, finding a club that is prepared to pay City a big fee for a player who cost them £100million.
City, don’t forget, remains a club that does not have to sell on the cheap. But Grealish turns 30 this year and needs to be guaranteed game time as he enters the final phase of his career. He won’t say so in public, obviously, but certain clubs should be made aware that he might be amenable to a move.
Is his England career in danger with Tuchel coming in?
Yes, and that will be a major concern for Jack. A major concern. Although he only played three times for him, Grealish loved the short period when Lee Carsley was in charge, scoring in two of those matches. Whatever his protestations, Gareth Southgate never seemed fully convinced but Carsley was a big fan and played the sort of style Grealish likes.
But Thomas Tuchel will be starting with a relatively clean slate and has no loyalty to Grealish. He also has a wealth of options in the areas in which Grealish likes to operate. Not seeing much of Grealish is hardly going to convince Tuchel that he should be a mainstay of his attacking system.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Learn more
