Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has challenged “street fighter” Jack Grealish to prove him wrong.
England forward Grealish has been eased out of Guardiola’s first-choice line-up this season, even though City have struggled at times.
The form of Brazilian wide man Savinho has been one reason. With Norwegian Oscar Bobb returning from injury and £63m January arrival Omar Marmoush also settling in, now there is even more competition for the former Aston Villa player.
Grealish impressed in the FA Cup win at Leyton Orient on Saturday, creating the 79th-minute winner for Kevin de Bruyne. It was his first start since victory in the previous round against League Two Salford.
The chances are he will be back on the bench for Tuesday’s blockbuster Champions League play-off first leg at home to Real Madrid.
“Jack has this sense of the street,” said Guardiola. “He is a player of the street.
“Today most of the players, for a manager, are academic – ‘you have to do this or that’. Jack is a fighter. He is there to fight in the stadiums when the people shout.
“He didn’t play the last games, mainly because Savinho on the left side had an incredible connection with Erling (Haaland) but the season is still open.
“But against Orient I saw the glimpse that he is going to rebel, to show the manager how wrong he is. I love that.”
