Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has detailed why Jack Grealish has dropped to the bench against Crystal Palace this afternoon.
The decision to drop the England international from the starting line-up at Selhurst Park comes off the back of an impressive showing in midweek against Nottingham Forest, when Grealish starred in a central midfield role.
Grealish taking a seat among the substitutes is one of four changes made by Pep Guardiola to his Manchester City line-up against Crystal Palace as the champions look to make it back-to-back wins in any competition since mid-to-late October.
Coming into the City set-up in London are Kyle Walker, Rico Lewis, Savinho, and Matheus Nunes, whilst Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake both drop out due to injury while Grealish and Jeremy Doku move onto the bench.
But when quizzed on the decision to leave out Jack Grealish from his line-up, despite his performance at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night, Pep Guardiola has suggested that it was a fitness-related decision.
“Energy. Fresh energy. Jack [Grealish] yesterday [on Friday] had some struggles,” Guardiola said ahead of the contest at Selhurst Park. The Manchester City manager continued, “Jeremy [Doku] came back after three or four weeks with a muscular injury.
“Three days [after playing against Nottingham Forest]it was too much risk. Fresh legs, energy and let’s go,” he said.
Guardiola was also keen to move on from the return to winning ways against Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, insisting that the victory is now ‘the past’. “The same as when we lost, we forget it,” he said. “It is not the end of the season and there are many games to play.”
Concerns over the fitness of Grealish come at a time when Pep Guardiola is facing a fresh wave of injury struggles throughout his squad, with six players ruled out entirely for the contest at Selhurst Park this weekend.
Rodri and Oscar Bobb remain long-term absentees while John Stones and Mateo Kovacic continue to be sidelined. Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake sustained concerns against Nottingham Forest and as such play no part in London.
