Guardiola hails ’street fighter’ Grealish and calls on winger to accept Man City challenge | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has hailed Jack Grealish a ‘street fighter’ after he set up the winning goal at Leyton Orient on his return to the Manchester City starting XI.

Grealish has made just two Premier League appearances for City since the turn of the year and, in a recent press conference, Guardiola apologised for not using the England international more often.

The Man City boss cited the form of Savinho as key to Grealish’s lack of involvement but the Spaniard was delighted to see Grealish take his chance in City’s hard-fought FA Cup victory over League One Orient.

“Both wingers were amazing. Both Savinho and Jack were outstanding,” Guardiola explained.

“The chances we created, the ball always came from there. They played really, really good.

“I’m really pleased for Jack because Jack has this sense of the player from the street.

“Most of the players today, because of the fault of managers, they are so academic. You have to do this, you have to do that.

“Jack is the sort of player who came to fight and in the stadiums where people shout, he’s there and he’s a fighter.

“I’m really pleased because in the last games he didn’t play because, especially, Savinho on the left side, has an incredible connection with Erling [Haaland].

“The season is still open and I’m happy with the performance we have given.”

Guardiola has now called on Grealish to show more consistency and accept the challenge in front of him at City.

“I want much more. This is the level that I’d like to see from Jack but it has not been like that,” Guardiola admitted.

“Clubs bring new players every season. We don’t have the same squad as when I arrived, or even one year ago, or the year for the treble or the 100 points.

“We have maybe three or four players no more than that.

“New contracts don’t make the players better, it’s the competition in the locker room, on the pitch, with ourselves that make the players better.

“He [Grealish] has to fight with Savinho, his impact this season has been amazing.

“It’s okay, accept the challenge, prove your best and today I saw that glimpse; ‘I’m going to rebel and show the manager how good I am.’”