Manager says Grealish ‘will be back’ after lacklustre season
City play Morocco’s Wydad AC in Philadelphia on Wednesday
Pep Guardiola stated Jack Grealish was excluded from Manchester City’s Club World Cup squad following honest discussions but claimed he could stay at City and return as the player who helped claim the treble.
In 35 appearances for City last term Grealish made only 16 starts, with six of these in the league, the 29-year-old’s drop in status underlined by him being an unused replacement in the 1-0 FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace. Guardiola was asked why he left Grealish off City’s bid to claim the inaugural 32-team cup, which begins against Wydad AC at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on Wednesday at midday local time.
“He had a conversation with the club and [we] decided [what was for] the best,” said Guardiola. “Jack is an exceptional player. The only reason why he didn’t play last season is of course my decision. We decide that he has to play. The club was honest, he was honest. Incredible love and respect [for him] and we decide the best is to stay [behind] and have a place [at home] that he can feel like he can come back to be the player like he was in the year of the treble or all his career in Aston Villa.
