‘I think he’s finished’ – Jack Grealish told his time is up at Man City following Pep Guardiola comments
Yesterday at 05:36 AM
Jack Grealish’s career with Manchester City is ‘finished’ after Pep Guardiola’s latest comments.
That’s the view of Jeff Stelling who believes that his days with the Premier League champions are numbered.
Grealish played a key role in Man City’s treble winning success in 2022/23 but has failed to recapture his form in the 18 months since, scoring just three times in 55 games.
The midfielder has completed 90 minutes just three times in all competitions this term with Savinho emerging as Guardiola’s first choice on the left wing.
But not just content with preferring the Brazilian in his starting XI, Guardiola made sure Grealish knew exactly where he was going wrong when speaking to the press.
“It's easy,” Guardiola started. “As much as he looks at himself, he will see the competition. He has to compete with himself. Savinho is in better shape and everything than Jack and that's why I played Savinho.
“I want the Jack that won the Treble. I want it. But I try to be honest with myself for that. What happened with Savinho's delivery in the box? It's higher than the other wingers in that position.
“And they have to fight. You can say, ‘OK, it's unfair’. If you think that, then it's fine. But you have to prove, ‘I'm going to fight with Savinho, to deserve to play in that position’. Every single day, and every single week and every single month.”
Reflecting on Guardiola’s comments, Jeff Stelling expressed his belief that the writing is on the wall for the 29-year-old at the Etihad Stadium.
Speaking on talkSPORT Breakfast, Stelling said: “I think he's finished there. I'm sorry, because that's really harsh.
"Jack Grealish is a wonderful player, I love watching Jack and I never really felt that he fitted that well into Pep's masterplan."
Responding, Ally McCoist said: "I agree with you. The wording of what Pep said is strange because it sounds a bit like a dig at Jack Grealish I think.
"The easiest thing for him to do would be to boost him back up and make it about Savinho and how good he's been as the player who is in possession of that jersey and how that will continue until his form drops or Jack can do something to get back in the team.
"It sounds like it was a bit of a shot at Jack."
Reacting to Stelling calling it 'a verbal kick up the backside’, McCoist said: "Correct and I'm with you mate.
"I've never felt that Jack has been 100 per cent comfortable with that move and I've watched him on numerous occasions and he certainly doesn't have the freedom to play like he did at Villa.
"That goes without saying but it was never going to be the case.
"I'll tell you one thing, I don't think he'll move on for £100million."
Grealish came through the youth set up with Aston Villa before joining Man City for £100m in the summer of 2021.
Since then he has made 144 appearances for City, scoring 14 goals and winning three Premier League titles, a Champions League and an FA Cup.
