Premier League: Jack Grealish had been turning heads for a number of seasons while representing boyhood club Aston Villa. Numerous suitors were vying for his signature and finally it was Pep Guardiola and Manchester City who won the race. The forward became the most expensive Englishman of all time after completing his £100m move in the summer, switching Villa Park for the Etihad after a stellar showing at the Euros with England. Follow Premier League live updates on InsideSport.IN
Also read: Premier League Boxing Day: Burnley vs Everton becomes third Boxing Day fixture to be postponed
But Jack Grealish has now admitted that he has found life at Manchester City to be extremely tough since joining from Aston Villa. To date, he has managed only two goals and two assists for his new side in 12 starts in the league this season. His overall numbers have also dipped whether it be assists, dribbles completed or chances created.
Premier League: Jack Grealish admits Manchester City move has not worked as expected, check details
“I’ve done okay so far. I’ve got so much more to give. It’s been so much more difficult than I thought it was going to be. I’m still learning and adapting. I’ve heard some people take a year to adapt here so maybe it will be the same for me. I want to score more and set up more goals next year,” Jack Grealish said.
“Having a £100m price tag means when you are going through a dry patch people ask if you are worth the money – where are his goals, where are his assists? I understand that, but I have to see it as a privilege that the club wanted to spend that much money on me and I hope I can repay them with goals and trophies,” Jack Grealish said in an interview.
Jack Grealish looks back a crazy few months and admits life at Man City is much more difficult than expected 🔵 pic.twitter.com/LvzdkC485c
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 25, 2021
Apart from the on-field displays, his off-field antics have also not helped matters. Pep Guardiola, a stickler when it comes to discipline, dropped the former Villa man for Manchester City’s game against Newcastle United. Jack Grealish was pictured along with young England star Phil Foden leaving a nightclub and City were reportedly unhappy with the condition of the pair when they arrived for a recovery session the next day.
Premier League: Jack Grealish admits Manchester City move has not worked as expected, check details
Pep Guardiola did not hide the indiscretion when asked about it after the 4-0 victory at St James’ Park.
“At Christmas time I pay a lot of attention to behaviour on and off the pitch. And when (behaviour) off the pitch is not proper, they are not going to play. So we have to be focused all the time because of distractions at Christmas time and everything that happens — you still have to be focused,” Pep Guardiola said.
The big-money move also has seen Jack Grealish play in the Champions League for the first time in his career.
“It’s crazy because the standards here are so high on and off the pitch. It’s unbelievable and it’s why they have been so successful over the years. Playing in the Champions League is completely different to the Premier League – I had never played in Europe before, and I really wanted to. It’s unbelievable to hear the Champions League anthem, it makes you pinch yourself. It’s one trophy the players here really want to win,” Jack Grealish said.
Premier League: Jack Grealish admits Manchester City move has not worked as expected, check details
Jack Grealish stats with Man City:
Premier League:
- Matches: 13
- Goals: 2
- Assists: 2
Champions League:
- Matches: 5
- Goals: 1
- Assists: 1
For Aston Villa in 2020-21:
- Games: 26
- Goals: 6
- Assists: 15
Premier League: Jack Grealish admits Manchester City move has not worked as expected, check details
A successful Euros campaign in which Grealish featured five times as England reached the Euro 2020 final and played a part in both goals in the last-16 win over Germany, ended in heartbreak in the final and that has contributed to his increased appetite to win a trophy with his new club.
“I came here to City to try and win trophies. That’s what you look at when your career ends – trophies and medals. Losing out with England has made me want to win trophies with City even more. We are playing some brilliant football at the moment and we are giving ourselves a really good chance of going on and winning a few trophies. That’s why I came here.”
Premier League: Jack Grealish admits Manchester City move has not worked as expected, check details
