Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reckons that midfielder Jack Grealish must immediately regain his rhythm after returning from injury to force his way back into the Premier League club’s starting lineup. Grealish was a key player in City’s treble-winning season last year, but his performance this season has been disappointing, with only three goals in 26 games across all competitions.
The England international has not played for City since suffering a groin injury in a 3-1 Champions League win over FC Copenhagen earlier this month and was benched in Saturday’s 1-0 win against Bournemouth. “He is the same player, he has the same manager, and the way we play has not changed,” Guardiola told reporters on Monday ahead of City’s FA Cup fifth-round clash against Luton Town.
“It’s just the way he has performed. That’s the difference. I said from day one, we need him. He has a special quality for our team. But it depends on him. Hopefully he can do a good last three months.”
Grealish has had limited playing minutes this season, with four of his 19 starts coming in the Community Shield, the European Super Cup, and both Club World Cup matches in Saudi Arabia. He last started a league game on December 30th against Sheffield United, when he was replaced by youngster Oscar Bobb after 52 minutes.
Grealish is not the first player to go in and out of Guardiola’s squad, given the expectations the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach sets on his players. The England international has also been told that he will not be allowed time to adjust to life back in the City squad.
“I cannot give players three or four games to get their rhythm,” added Guardiola. “They have to find the rhythm to play for 20 minutes or 90. At a high level, the team don’t wait to be fit. You cannot give someone three or four games to be fit. What about the 10 who don’t play? They deserve not to play? You have to see the training sessions and all the small details. The players don’t have to convince me. They have to convince themselves that they deserve to play.”
