Grealish makes Man City admission after 'angry' message from boss Guardiola
Jack Grealish has admitted he is at risk of losing his place in Manchester City's team if he does not start scoring more goals.
The attacker joined City for a then-British record transfer fee in the summer of 2021, making more than 100 appearances, winning two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and the Champions League. But in that time he has scored just 11 goals.
The England international is yet to find the net in any competition this season, a drought that continued as City defeated Young Boys on Wednesday. He did lay on the assist for Phil Foden's goal after following instructions from boss Pep Guardiola, who said he needs to be 'angrier' to win back his place amid the impressive form of Jeremy Doku.
"Even myself. I need to start scoring more goals. I know what I bring to the team aside from goals and assists. Every attacking player wants to score more goals. Myself, we won 3-0 but on another day it could have been five or six," Grealish told TNT Sports.
"Before the game, the manager said to me that because they were playing with a five, when we have the ball sometimes we go from me, to (Mateo) Kova, to Rodri and he was saying with a five, when you come inside hit there straight away instead of going to each player
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"Because it takes longer. When I was coming inside, I pinged it straight out to Phil (Foden) to go one on one with the defender and that’s what he did. I don’t think it was that good of a ball was it?"
City's win has ensured they have qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League with two games to spare. And while Grealish is relieved at getting the job done, he praised boss Guardiola for keeping his team on track.
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Grealish laid on the assist for Phil Foden's goal against Young Boys, but is yet to find the back of the net this season (PETER KLAUNZER/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)"That’s what we wanted to do. Every year, we have so many games as a team, we are always in most of the competitions. To qualify with two games to go, that is what we wanted to do and that was our aim," the attacker added.
"He gives us so much. In my opinion he is the best manager in the world and I think he’s shown that over the years. Also, you can have the best manager in the world, but you also need the team and the dressing room as well to do that.
"We have that. We have a brilliant team on the pitch, but off the pitch we have a team that are so close. We love being with each other every day, and I think that shows on the pitch."
Star striker Erling Haaland scored twice to claim the win for City, netting either side of Foden. And boss Guardiola was full of praise for his two goalscorers, as well as Grealish, after the game.
“It was a fantastic goal and the second one from Phil was amazing, too. His control and finally, he didn't shoot strong, he put the ball in the net softly. Always in the early ages when you are 6, 7, 8 years-old, he always had this type of finish and today it was back," he said.
“You don’t need to shoot strong there, just put the ball close to the post where the goalkeeper can’t get it. He made an incredible action, the pass from Jack was perfect, the control from Phil was amazing. Two beautiful goals.”
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