Manchester City were beaten 2-1 by RB Leipzig in their final Champions League group, but with qualification already assured Pep Guardiola took the opportunity to rotate his charges
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Guardiola tells Grealish to emulate Sterling with goal return
“When they get the ball close to the box, my friend, you decide whatever you want. That’s why you are Jack Grealish and not another player.”
When lingering doubts began to surface in the £100million-man, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was quick to quash them.
Grealish hasn’t been demonstrably bad since his summer switch, but such is the focus on Britain’s most expensive player, criticism will now never be too far away.
And the 26-year-old has been perhaps his own harshest critic, suggesting he needs to find a more selfish streak, the type of which he exhibited in the Midlands on a weekly basis.
Grealish’s paltry return of just two goals and three assists show on the surface at least, a period of adaptation.
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“His positions are always good and he plays really good football perspective,” Guardiola added. “With the confidence and a little bit more time he will be aggressive to take [his] own decisions to score a goal. Step by step, he will get it.”
Guardiola is clearly still working to find the best solution for his array of attacking talents, many of whom have now had a run out in the false 9 position.
Grealish has perhaps flattered to deceive in his regular position, but he has often made it clear that his preferred position is central and Guardiola now looks ready to give him a go.
After lining up as the central figure in the front three at Watford, he retained that role for the final Champions League group game away at RB Leipzig.
He missed a host of chances at Vicarage Road, but Guardiola was philosophical in his review of the club’s record transfer, saying: “Scoring goals is the most difficult thing in football. We are not specialists but we are playing really well.”
Handed another opportunity in Germany, Grealish often found pockets of space but struggled to truly get involved during the opening 45.
His main involvement actually came down the left when he had the opportunity to square to Riyad Mahrez to tap in an equaliser following Domink Szoboszlai’s opener.
However, the ex-Villa man took the wrong option – perhaps symbolic of his current form, and the cross was intercepted.
That moment aside, much of Grealish’s play hinted he had failed to follow the ‘aggressive’ advice he laid out for him. Neat interplay, often one-touch, but seemingly unwilling to turn and drive in the manner that has seen him evolve into one of Europe’s most dynamic attacking players.
In the second half, upon the arrival of Raheem Sterling, Grealish was shifted to the left flank, but once again failed to make the desired impact as City slipped to a 2-0 defeat.
In a disjointed City display, he wasn’t the worst player on show, but at £100m, he needs to offer substantially more.
Guardiola believes players often take a year to get up to speed within his system, but following his blueprint could significantly accelerate Grealish’s transition period.
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