Grealish must improve to return to side – Pep Guardiola
The manager of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, stated that Jack Grealish will regain his spot in the starting lineup consistently once his performances show improvement.
In the previous season’s triumphant Treble campaign, the 28-year-old English midfielder commenced 41 matches for City, which encompassed both the FA Cup and Champions League finals.
However, this season, he has kicked off just 19 games, with seven appearances in the Premier League.
“He is the same player, he has the same manager, and the way we play has not changed,” said Guardiola.
“It’s just the way he has performed. That’s the difference.”
During this season, Grealish has seen minimal action in the top-flight league. Among his 19 starts, four occurred in the Community Shield, the European Super Cup, and both matches at the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
His most recent league start was on December 30th against Sheffield United, where he was substituted for youngster Oscar Bobb after 52 minutes.
In the recent victory against Bournemouth, the £100m player remained on the bench, and it’s uncertain whether he will start the FA Cup fifth round tie against Luton.
“I said from day one, we need him,” said Guardiola. “He has a special quality for our team. But it depends on him. Hopefully he can do a good last three months.”
Grealish is not the first player to find himself in and out of Guardiola’s team, such are the demands the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach places on his players.
And the England international has been warned he will not be given time to ease himself back into the City side.
“I cannot give players three or four games to get their rhythm,” added Guardiola. “They have to find the rhythm to play for 20 minutes or 90.
“At a high level, the team don’t wait to be fit. You cannot give someone three or four games to be fit. What about the 10 who don’t play? They deserve not to play?
“You have to see the training sessions and all the small details. The players don’t have to convince me. They have to convince themselves that they deserve to play.”