Pep Guardiola's desperate message to Jack Grealish

If Manchester City is gradually regaining its smile, it is partly thanks to Savinho. The young Brazilian has just completed two dream weeks during which he scored a goal and provided three assists. A good omen for the Skyblues who are only two points away from fourth place in the Premier League standings, synonymous with the Champions League. Excellent news also in view of the decisive C1 clash against Paris Saint-Germain. A less good one, however, for Jack Grealish.

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“The €110 million man”, as the English media love to nickname him ironically, is nothing more than a shadow of himself. This season, the British international has played 19 matches in all competitions and has only two assists. Worse, Grealish completed the calendar year of 2024 without scoring a single goal. You therefore understand the pinching irony of the English media, because today, Grealish is no longer worth this €110 million. But at the end of the match won against West Ham (4-1), Pep Guardiola had to explain his choice to have started Savinho while his competitor had to be content with six minutes of play.

“I fought a lot for him”

“It’s easy. Even if he looks at himself, he sees the competition and he has to be competitive. Savinho is in better shape than Jack and that's why I played Savinho. I want the Jack who won the treble. I want it, but I'm trying to be honest with myself about it. They have to fight. We can say: “Okay, but that’s unfair.” If that's what you think, that's great. But you have to prove that you are going to fight with Savinho to deserve to play in this position. And this, every day, every week and every month”he declared, before sending yet another message to Grealish, to try to re-motivate him.

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“I fought a lot for him, I fought a lot for him (Grealish) to be here. And I know he can do it because I've seen it. I saw his level and I want him to do it in every training and every match. Otherwise, is there anyone in this room who thinks Savinho doesn't deserve to play? No, he deserves it. That's why I play him, because he produces. That's why he played. I would really like to play football. I was an excellent football player. You don't remember this, but I was a football player and I would like to play. I can't. If I don't perform well, I can't. » Will Jack Grealish be receptive to this umpteenth hand extended by his coach?