Pep Guardiola insists Jack Grealish is ‘playing at a high level’ at Man City and ‘gives everything’ after the £100m star was filmed looking worse for wear on a night out… as former boss Dean Smith backs him as ‘a top talent’
- Man City boss Pep Guardiola defended Jack Grealish after recent controversy
- Grealish was allegedly turned away from a bar during a Manchester night out
- The £100m star has not enjoyed the best of starts to his career at the Etihad
- But Guardiola believes he is playing at a ‘high level’ and showing a good attitude
- His former boss Dean Smith also backed him ahead of City’s trip to Norwich
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has insisted Jack Grealish ‘gives everything’ for the club despite recent controversy that saw the midfielder allegedly filmed being turned away from a bar on a night out.
The Spaniard leapt to the defence of the £100million star, who has not enjoyed the brightest of starts to his Etihad career – with just two goals and two assists in the Premier League so far this season – saying he was ‘playing at a high level’.
Grealish was in the headlines again this week after footage was posted online of the 26-year-old on a night out with team-mates Riyad Mahrez and Kyle Walker in Manchester – and he appeared to be looking worse for wear.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola has thrown his backing around Jack Grealish after tough season
The midfielder was seen looking worse for wear on a night out in Manchester this week
It came just months after the England star was dropped by Guardiola for turning up to training in a poor condition.
But Guardiola came out fighting for his record signing ahead of City’s trip to Norwich on Saturday, saying he was ‘playing at a high level’ despite his struggles to reproduce his top form with Aston Villa last season and agreed with his former boss Dean Smith that he is devoted to his training.
‘No-one knows Jack better than Dean, I agree with him [that Grealish gives everything every day],’ he said at his pre-match press conference.
‘He plays good when he is playing, he has helped us to be in the position we are in.
Grealish has struggled to reproduce his best form since his £100m move from Aston Villa
But Guardiola insists Grealish is ‘playing at a high level’ and ‘gives everything’ to the club
‘He is playing in a high level, he has changed his life from Birmingham to here. He plays really well, either wide or centrally. We are really [happy] about [his performances]. Not [just] Jack, the players together from day one, we push them. It’s the best way to wake up, train, and think to do something better.’
Long time ago, when we play against them, it’s a new manager. Norwich have momentum, seven from last nine. We play them at their best moment of the season.
It came after Grealish was also backed by Smith as he prepares to come up against his former player for the first time at Carrow Road, saying he was confident he would still reach the top of his game.
His former boss Dean Smith (R) also backed Grealish as a ‘top talent’ as he prepares to face him again with his Norwich City side
‘Jack is going to be a top, top player – and he has shown moments at City,’ he said.
‘I still speak to Jack quite regularly. He wants to find more consistency within the team there, but he is playing among a litter of star players there and he is one of them himself.
‘He is enjoying the experience of it and working with the likes of Pep Guardiola, he is learning more and more.
‘Jack is a top talent and a top lad as well – and anybody who has worked with him will tell you that.’