Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has stated that Jack Grealish must demonstrate he deserves to reclaim his place in the starting line-up by showcasing the same level of quality he showed during the club’s Treble-winning season in 2023.
The 29-year-old England international has featured in 14 of City’s 20 Premier League matches this season, though he has started just six times.
Grealish played only six minutes in City’s 4-1 win over West Ham United at the Etihad on Sunday, coming on for Erling Haaland in the 84th minute.
Brazilian Savinho, a £30.8m summer signing from Girona, started ahead of Grealish against West Ham and provided both assists for Haaland’s brace in the victory.
Guardiola emphasized that he will work with Grealish to help him rediscover the form that made him a key player two seasons ago, when City won the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League.
Asked whether Savinho could be an ‘example’ for the forward to win back his place, the City boss said: “Savinho is in better shape and everything than Jack, and that’s why I played Savinho [against West Ham].
“Do I want the Jack that won the Treble? Yeah I want it, but I try to be honest with myself for that.
“They have to fight. You can say it’s unfair. OK, if you think that, then it’s fine, but you have to prove [to me], ‘OK, I’m going to fight with Savinho, to deserve to play in that position’, every single day, every single week and every single month.”
Grealish has won three Premier League titles, the Champions League and the FA Cup since his £100m move from Aston Villa in the summer of 2021.
However, this season City suffered a run of nine defeats in 13 games before Christmas – six of them in the Premier League as they tumbled out of contention to claim a fifth successive championship.
Grealish missed two matches over the festive period before returning for the morale-boosting win against West Ham.
“Two weeks ago, he was injured and he needs rhythm, and to play, but players need training,” added Guardiola.
“I don’t have any doubt about the quality of Jack or any of these players. They would not be here [otherwise].
“I fought a lot for him, fought a lot to be here. I know that he can do it because I saw him. I saw his level and I want that, every single training session and every single game.”