Manchester City’s record signing, Jack Grealish, is starting to justify his price tag of £100 million ($124 million) after a disappointing first season at the club.
Pep Guardiola’s team is on track to possibly win three major titles – the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup – with Grealish playing a key role in their recent improvement since the World Cup.
City are five points behind Arsenal in the Premier League, but they have the opportunity to control their own fate with two games in hand. They will face Arsenal on Wednesday, which could be a crucial match.
Even though he was bought for a high fee in the biggest transfer in Premier League history from Aston Villa in 2021, Grealish didn’t play much during the end of last season when Manchester City won the title by beating Liverpool by one point, and won their fourth Premier League trophy in five seasons.
After a year, the English player has gained Guardiola’s confidence by adapting to his techniques.
Guardiola acknowledged that the player is performing well this season, but he also expressed a desire for even better results.
At first, he may have felt unworthy of being on the team that had won the Premier League, but now he feels like he belongs.
Jack is a valuable player for the team and his presence is not just for one season but for a longer period. Some players adjust quickly while others take longer to adapt.
At first glance, it seems unlikely that Guardiola and Grealish would have a good relationship.
The Catalan coach pays very close attention to small things, while Grealish is one of the few players who stands out for his unique personality.
Last year, the 27-year-old gained attention for his behavior during City’s title celebrations and later went on a heavily-documented trip to Ibiza where he consumed a lot of alcohol.
Grealish admitted to regularly getting a five-course Chinese takeaway after each game.
Guardiola praised the professionalism of a player who made sure he was physically prepared to handle the demanding schedule of City.
Grealish has been in the starting lineup for Manchester City’s last 12 Premier League games and all four of their knockout stage matches in the Champions League.
Grealish said last month that knowing Pep trusts him in important matches boosts his confidence.
The speaker feels like they have fulfilled their responsibilities and contributed to the team and believes that is the reason why they are still a part of it.
Grealish is now producing significant moments, particularly his goal that helped City regain the lead in their 3-1 victory over Arsenal in February.
Although he has scored against Manchester United and Liverpool, his performance of five goals and 10 assists is not impressive for a player who was bought for £100 million.
Guardiola focuses on how Grealish has contributed to City’s recent success as a team, rather than just looking at his individual statistics.