Manchester City made Jack Grealish the most expensive footballer in Britain, and Pep Guardiola has instructed him to return to his previous level of performance.
Grealish has only played 14 minutes in City’s last four games, coming on as a late substitute in a 3-1 victory against Burnley ten days ago.
Due to the outstanding performances of Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden, Grealish’s impact has diminished, prompting Guardiola to urge the England winger to rediscover his form to regain his place in the team.
Additionally, young Norwegian winger Oscar Bobb has seen playing time ahead of Grealish this season. With England’s Euro 2024 campaign approaching this summer, the 28-year-old will need to work hard to secure regular playing time.
When asked about Grealish’s return to the team, Guardiola emphasized the importance of being true to oneself.
Guardiola expressed his satisfaction with Grealish as a player but emphasized the need for him to put in the effort to reach his previous level, both from last season and during his time at Aston Villa.
Guardiola acknowledged that Grealish may have been affected by the break-in at his home on December 27 while his family was present. However, Guardiola praised Grealish’s handling of the situation and expressed hope that he has moved past it.
As Manchester City aims for a win against Everton to potentially take the top spot in the standings, Guardiola downplayed any talk of winning the Treble again, emphasizing the challenges ahead and the need for continued focus and effort from the team.