Nearly a year ago, Jack Grealish reveled in Manchester City’s Treble victory, celebrating with fans in Manchester despite the rain. As the focal point of the celebration, Grealish, who had not slept since City’s victory in Istanbul, charmed the crowd with his spirited antics. Amid the festivities, he watched teammate Kalvin Phillips mimic a famous Gazza celebration, all while reflecting on his critical role in securing the historic Treble. Since joining City from Aston Villa for a record £100m in 2021, Grealish has been pivotal, playing major minutes in critical matches across all competitions, including the entire Champions League final that secured City’s first-ever title in the competition.
Challenging Season: From City’s Spotlight to Euro Exclusion
Jack Grealish’s stellar performances initially seemed to justify Manchester City’s investment in him and had attracted interest from Manchester United’s coaches. Despite a prominent display during a City celebration, where he nearly had an accident on the parade bus, Grealish’s season took a downturn. Missing out on the Euros selection, with players like Jarrod Bowen and young talents Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon, and Eberechi Eze being preferred, highlighted a challenging phase for him. City’s coach, Pep Guardiola, sparingly used Grealish, including a brief appearance against Wolves and leaving him on the bench during crucial matches against Tottenham and West Ham. This culminated in Grealish not playing in the FA Cup final, further clouding his season. The disappointment was palpable, with England manager Gareth Southgate and close friend Declan Rice expressing their dismay over Grealish’s situation.
Southgate’s Tough Decision on Grealish
Southgate chose not to delve into a detailed critique of Grealish’s performance this season, emphasizing that discussing the broader issues publicly “wouldn’t be fair.” He acknowledged the unexpectedness of his decision, describing it as a challenging one made after considerable deliberation. Despite Grealish’s significant transfer fee and extensive experience, Southgate pointed out that other players finished the season more strongly, underscoring the harsh realities of football management.
