Savinho is in “better shape and everything” than Jack Grealish, warns Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has sent a clear warning to Jack Grealish over his future prospects at starting on the left of Manchester City’s front-three.

The England international is currently in the midst of a difficult campaign on a personal note, and has largely struggled to build upon an integral role during Manchester City’s historic Treble-winning season of 2022/23.

While goals and assists have never come frequently for Grealish since joining the club from Aston Villa in 2021, his role in attacking phases of play and retaining possession high up the pitch has made him a popular figure within Pep Guardiola’s plans.

But as Manchester City potentially look to head in a different direction with the way they attack, particularly given the recent success of Savinho on the left of the front-three, it may come at a significant cost for Jack Grealish and his career.

Speaking during a recent press conference, manager Pep Guardiola insisted that he needs to see more fight from Grealish to steal back the left-wing spot from the aforementioned Brazil international, who has been in fine form for City in recent matches.

“As much as he looks himself, and will see the contention, they have to compete with themselves and now Savinho is in better shape and everything than Jack (Grealish), and that’s why I play Savinho,” Guardiola said after the 4-1 win over West Ham on Saturday afternoon.

“I wanted Jack for the Treble, yeah. Yeah, yeah, I want it! But I try to be honest with myself for that, and what happened with Savinho delivering into the box is higher than maybe the other wingers in that position. And they have to fight!

“You can say, ‘OK now it’s unfair’, OK if you decide to think about that, it’s fine. They have to prove, ‘OK, I’m going to fight with Savinho to deserve to play in that position’, and every single day, and every single week, and every single month.

“And that’s it, because I fought a lot for him, I fought a lot to be here to, ‘Come on! Do it again! Do it again!’ And I know he can do it, because I saw him, I saw him! It’s not that I’d never seen one player, Jack, or any other one, no I saw him! I saw your level! And I want that!

“Every single training session, every single game. And Savinho, there is someone in this room that thinks Savinho doesn’t deserve, right now, to play? No. Deserved. So that’s why he plays, because he produced.”

When press further on what he is currently not seeing from Grealish to warrant a run of games in the Manchester City line-up, Guardiola said, “He was injured again, he was injured! Two weeks ago he was injured, and injured, and he needs rhythm and playing, playing and training, and games to have the minutes.

“I don’t have any doubts about the quality of Jack (Grealish), or any of the players, they would not be here! But they have to right now, today, at 3PM, you have to be our best. It’s not about what they have done or what they will do, it’s 3PM!

“The one hour 30 minutes, or one hour 45 minutes that we are going to play, the responsibility belongs to the players, not to me. The way they train before, and when I prepare the training, now here is my responsibility. But on the pitch, it belongs to them.”

There may be an opportunity for Grealish to impress as soon as this weekend, as Manchester City return to FA Cup action with a third round tie at the Etihad Stadium against League Two outfit Salford City.