The Treble To The Periphery - What's Going On With Jack Grealish?

Jack Grealish is astatine a crossroads.

The associated astir costly British footballer ever, Grealish should beryllium looking guardant to Manchester City's mouth-watering Champions League play-off information lucifer pinch Real Madrid connected Tuesday.

But, if caller acquisition is immoderate guide, he is apt to beryllium connected nan bench.

Last month, nan 29-year-old was a sub arsenic Pep Guardiola's men trailed astatine half-time successful their must-win last first-phase crippled against Club Brugge. But alternatively of his £100m man, Guardiola turned to comparatively untested Brazilian Savinho - a £30.8m signing from Girona past summertime - to lead nan salvage operation.

Grealish did not characteristic for a azygous minute.

Guardiola was not moreover asked astir it afterwards because nary of nan reporters coming were surprised.

How did we get here? What has gone incorrect for nan England international? And is location a measurement backmost for him astatine City?

Just complete a period earlier nan Brugge game, Guardiola delivered a straightforward nationalist connection to Grealish, challenging him to beryllium he deserved to regain his spot and explaining why Savinho was being chosen up of him.

"Savinho is successful amended style and everything than Jack, and that's why I played Savinho," he said. "Do I want nan Jack that won nan Treble? Yeah I want it, but I effort to beryllium honorable pinch myself astir that. They person to fight.

"You tin opportunity it's unfair. If you deliberation that, it's fine, but you person to beryllium [to me], 'OK, I'm going to conflict pinch Savinho, to merit to play successful that position', each azygous day, each azygous week and each azygous month."

Despite specified criticism, Grealish subsequently managed his first extremity successful much than a twelvemonth against Salford City successful nan FA Cup.

And past against PSG he scored for nan first clip successful nan Champions League since 2021.

But those statistic simply underlined nan inescapable consciousness of drift - and Grealish did not characteristic again until nan FA Cup fourth-round necktie astatine League One Leyton Orient connected Saturday.

Grealish created nan 79th-minute victor for Kevin de Bruyne, and afterwards his head seemed impressed.

"Jack is simply a fighter," said Guardiola. "He didn't play nan past games... but nan play is still open... against Orient I saw nan glimpse that he is going to rebel, to show nan head really incorrect he is. I emotion that."

That was only nan 4th clip since October Grealish had featured for a afloat crippled however, and he hinted astatine nan toll his struggles astatine City had taken, reflecting connected "probably nan astir difficult twelvemonth of my life for galore reasons, connected and disconnected nan pitch".

"I recovered it really difficult," he added. "But it's a caller year, a benignant of caller start, and hopefully I tin footwear connected from here...

"I do find it difficult astatine times to travel successful and retired of games, not really playing. Hopefully I tin support training good and playing a fewer much games."

Some of those adjacent to Grealish emphasise it is not conscionable him that has endured a difficult play - nan aforesaid tin beryllium said for nan full team. They consciousness Grealish has mislaid retired successful Guardiola's hopeless hunt for solutions to nan worst play of his managerial career.

Kevin de Bruyne, it has been pointed out, has besides been many times overlooked. They besides opportunity it is incorrect to comparison nan man who shone for Aston Villa pinch nan existent type astatine City because he has been utilized very differently.

Indeed, 1 referred BBC Sport to nan caller comments of erstwhile England winger Theo Walcott, who past period said: "I spot a subordinate who has unthinkable talent that's been perfectly coached retired of him. I conscionable consciousness he's gone distant from his strengths. Everything that is Jack Grealish has been trained retired of him."

Others disagree nan head has successful immoderate measurement drilled nan productivity retired of his player.

"He's conscionable sewage to get connected pinch it," says ex-Villa head Tim Sherwood, who gave a teenage Grealish his first convention commencement 10 years ago, and still speaks regularly to him.

"It happens to everyone. He gets into beautiful overmuch each different Premier League team. I've nary thought what Pep's rumor is, but he owes a batch to Pep.

"He wants to play, but he knows what to do. He's conscionable sewage to support moving hard. He'll bounce back, he's a bully pro. He's ne'er been 'first choice'. I'm not judge who is astatine City."

Grealish's struggles to get into City's starting broadside are thing new. At nan extremity of past play he admitted his 2023-24 run had been "stop-start".

"We person truthful galore bully players present truthful it's difficult," he added. "There's nary squad successful nan world that rotates for illustration this squad do, but that's nan beauty of it."

But Guardiola still seems unsure what to make of Grealish, aliases moreover wherever to play him.

As precocious arsenic early December, nan head praised his capacity aft playing him successful a cardinal domiciled against Nottingham Forest - nan 1 crippled successful a chronic 13-match spell they did triumph - and moreover joked he whitethorn person made a correction by antecedently utilizing him arsenic a winger.

Yet, conscionable a period later, Guardiola publically suggested nan player's standards had slipped, starring to rumours Grealish could time off during nan January transportation window.

That did not happen, but nan arrivals of different guardant successful Omar Marmoush and cardinal midfielder Nico Gonzalez, positive Oscar Bobb's return to fitness, bring moreover much competition.

So erstwhile did Grealish's autumn down nan pecking bid really begin?

Just 20 months agone he had been astatine nan centre of City's finest hour, playing each infinitesimal of their Champions League last triumph complete Inter Milan successful Istanbul. He had besides played virtually each of nan magnificent 4-0 semi-final triumph complete Real Madrid, and nan FA Cup last triumph against Manchester United.

Grealish past became nan look of City's Treble festivities. His drinking and deficiency of slumber received overmuch of nan attention, and he admitted he had reported "a spot hungover" for England duty.

It each reinforced nan consciousness of enjoyment, authenticity and openness that has endeared him to fans and team-mates, evoking memories of Paul Gascoigne's flamboyance. But it besides risked raising concerns pinch his coaches.

"There is simply a line," said England head Gareth Southgate, erstwhile asked whether it was excessive of Grealish to statement for 3 days - successful what galore interpreted arsenic a subtle informing to support nan revelry successful check.

"I don't deliberation it is simply a party-boy thing," Grealish said, erstwhile asked whether criticisms complete nan celebrations had bothered him.

"I would ne'er beryllium present and dishonesty to you and opportunity 'yeah, I don't portion and I don't party' because I do… I conscionable bask myself, I'm surviving my dream of playing for nan champion nine successful nan world successful my opinion. I knew [what] I was doing, that's conscionable nan measurement I am, I'm for illustration that erstwhile I statement usually."

Back successful 2021, Grealish and Phil Foden were warned complete their conduct by Guardiola aft nan brace were pictured connected a nighttime retired pursuing a match. Both were past dropped, pinch nan head saying: "I salary a batch of attraction to behaviour connected and disconnected nan pitch."

The pursuing year, however, Guardiola defended a group of his players - including Grealish - erstwhile akin images emerged, and location is nary grounds he had concerns astir nan post-Treble celebrations.

But what is clear is that was nan precocious constituent for Grealish. In nan 2023-24 play that followed, he made conscionable 10 starts, pinch 3 goals and 3 assists crossed each competitions. And moreover aft wounded issues had cleared up, he was mostly overlooked, pinch Belgium winger Jeremy Doku often preferred.

Grealish hinted astatine a post-Treble comedown and, midway done past season, Guardiola suggested nan winger needed to improve.

"He is nan aforesaid player, he has nan aforesaid head and nan measurement we play has not changed," he said. "It's conscionable nan measurement he has performed. That's nan difference."

Grealish surely seemed much of a free tone astatine Aston Villa. Manchester United wanted him, and successful 2020, they had a chance, but went for Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek instead. Someone progressive astatine United astatine nan clip feels nan presence of Doku successful nan aftermath of nan Champions League triumph mightiness person affected him.

It besides felt important that past May, while praising his manager, Grealish admitted: "I've had times this play that I've struggled disconnected nan transportation - I don't mind saying that - and he's been location for maine truthful much."

Some weeks later, he erstwhile again referred to individual issues - mentioning injuries, but past adding: "I besides had a batch of, not a lot, but immoderate worldly that happened disconnected nan field. Sometimes group from nan extracurricular don't see, they conscionable deliberation we conscionable play shot and we're these robots but we do person a life disconnected nan section arsenic well. And sometimes it's difficult to woody pinch that."

Grealish was understood to beryllium referring, astatine slightest successful part, to a robbery astatine his Cheshire location while immoderate of his family were coming and he was distant playing successful December 2023 - an ordeal he described astatine nan clip arsenic a "traumatic experience" that near him "devastated".

But location were further challenges to come.

Grealish was near "absolutely heartbroken" by being near retired of Southgate's Euro 2024 squad - a determination he has since made clear he disagreed with. Several group adjacent to nan subordinate told BBC Sport its effect connected him should not beryllium underestimated.

"The curen that he had from England kicked him sideways, and made a existent quality to his confidence," said one. "I cognize that's had immoderate effect."

"It deed him for illustration a sledgehammer," said another, who has worked intimately pinch Grealish.

"He loves playing for England, and erstwhile nan squad is astatine a awesome tourney it is inescapable, wherever you are successful nan world. I cognize he recovered that hard."

Grealish responded to nan snub by mounting up his ain summertime training campy utilizing Juventus' facilities, and refused nan connection of further clip off. He intelligibly wanted to deed nan crushed moving - but, while he did good connected a pre-season circuit successful nan United States, he was outshone by Norwegian youngster Bobb.

England's interim head Lee Carsley recalled Grealish - starting him against nan Republic of Ireland and Finland successful September, past against Finland again nan pursuing month, pinch nan City man scoring doubly crossed nan 3 games.

But his return to nan world fold besides disappointment Guardiola, pinch nan coach irritated England had again selected Grealish successful November, contempt his struggles pinch fitness.

"I'm ever pleased for players to spell - erstwhile they are fresh and they haven't struggled for nan past one, two, 3 aliases 4 weeks," said Guardiola astatine nan time. "In 17 days he didn't train once... Jack has had 2 aliases 3 setbacks successful position of injuries and could not get his rhythm." Grealish subsequently withdrew.

If his assurance has been dented by Guardiola's pointed remarks, he would not beryllium nan first astatine City. Last year, Kalvin Phillips - different England world who struggled to person his manager, contempt costing nan nine £42m erstwhile signed from Leeds successful 2022 - admitted he had been wounded by disapproval complete his weight.

Guardiola later apologised, but it is clear his strength and exacting standards tin travel astatine a cost.

According to those who cognize him, Grealish is simply a celebrated fig wrong nan dressing room, grateful for what his talent has fixed him, and a man who does not return himself excessively seriously. They declare he is besides nan subordinate astir apt to extremity and talk to fans connected tract visits.

As his sister Hollie has cerebral palsy, location was thing profoundly individual astir nan relationship he struck up pinch young City instrumentality Finlay Fisher - who besides has nan information - that led to him doing a extremity ceremony successful nan 2022 World Cup successful his honour. It fits pinch Grealish's explanation of himself arsenic "relatable" successful a caller movie posted connected nan City website. "There's nary filter," he added.

Those who knew him astatine Villa speak astir a assured yet humble young man who would return his clip pinch fans and unit astatine nan club, asking astir their families and really they were.

The humanity he showed belied nan popular, trendy and handsome image successful nan headlines. "His authenticity came through," said 1 who worked pinch him.

Shaun Derry, who managed Grealish erstwhile he was a 17-year-old connected indebtedness astatine Notts Country successful 2013-14, says he "misses seeing nan aged Jack".

In League One he made 37 appearances and scored 5 goals, pinch Derry witnessing nan improvement of a young talent first hand.

"I felt I saw 2 Jacks really," he told BBC Sport. "One was this existent young, immature kid who needed to quickly understand what we was looking to do astatine Notts County. Of people location was an immature Jack, he was 17.

"So it's really easy to understand looking backmost now, what that looked like, but location was an unbelievable assurance and bravery and personality connected nan pitch.

"When he's looking backmost astatine his profession he's going to spot an absolute apical level one, championships, experiences, world football. People will look backmost and astir apt look much fondly astatine Jack arsenic they do now."

Grealish ne'er pushed to time off Villa, his boyhood club, moreover aft Tottenham circled pursuing nan club's relegation successful 2016.

He stayed to thief them return to nan Premier League successful 2019 and is viewed arsenic being instrumental successful Villa's betterment pinch an unshakeable belief successful his talent described arsenic "infectious".

"He allowed others to consciousness things were possible," said 1 erstwhile Villa employee.

However, immoderate adjacent to Grealish besides consciousness Guardiola simply doesn't 'get' nan England international. That he has still not worked him out.

The interest for Grealish would beryllium if nan head has stopped trying to. And pinch nan coach committed to City for different 2 seasons aft this, nan adjacent fewer weeks will style whether Grealish is location pinch him aliases not.

"I deliberation it is beautiful simple," erstwhile Premier League striker Chris Sutton said. "Jack's a level-headed lad and he knows he needs to beryllium himself to Pep - he knows he needs to get his caput down and play well.

"You fishy pinch what has gone connected that he whitethorn beryllium surplus to requirements successful nan summer, but he ever seems a decent feline who accepts his situation, and he knows he needs crippled clip to show he has a early pinch City."

The twelvemonth 2024 was notable for Grealish successful different ways, becoming a begetter for nan first clip erstwhile his partner Sasha Attwood gave commencement to a girl successful September.

"I would person thought that would beryllium bully thing, and calmed him down," said 1 friend. "He's ever had tons of friends and activities. But now family and shot are his focus."

Commercially, Grealish continues to bask awesome success, connected apical of nan £15 cardinal yearly net he is estimated to gain from City. Last twelvemonth Kelandan - nan image authorities institution he owns pinch his begetter Kevin - filed accounts showing £10.5million successful assets,, external an yearly summation from £3.4m, aft a drawstring of sponsorship deals pinch nan likes of Gucci, Bose, Puma and Hellmann's.

However, a motion of nan on-pitch vexation Grealish has felt astatine times this play came aft conclusion against his boyhood nine astatine Villa Park successful December, erstwhile he was known to beryllium upset aft being booed and heckled by immoderate of nan fans who erstwhile adored him.

Grealish responded by holding up 3 fingers - believed to beryllium a reference to nan number of Premier League titles he has won since joining City. But, successful reality, he has had small to boast astir this campaign.

And arsenic he approaches his 30th birthday, he faces a awesome situation to revitalise his profession for some nine and country, and unrecorded up to nan value tag and anticipation his talents erstwhile generated.

Additional reporting by Chris Bevan