Pep Guardiola Already Informed Jack Grealish About His Future After Preferring Jeremy Doku Over the England Star

Competition can keep the best soccer stars on their toes. David Raya replacing a goalkeeper like Aaron Ramsdale is a fine example of how your place can be under threat. And Pep Guardiola’s recent approach toward Jack Grealish again emphasized this. The Englishman made a grand arrival at the Etihad on a $139 million deal, but the boss has made his intention clear after his recent performances. This comes after Belgian star Jeremy Doku showcased his impressive skills this year for Manchester City.

Despite winning the Premier League for the fourth time in a row, Guardiola doesn’t seem satisfied with Grealish’s contribution last time. According to reports, ahead of the FA Cup final against Manchester United, Pep Guardiola had warned the star to step up in such a way next season that he should be able to count on him. Currently, it appears the Spanish coach leans more on Jeremy Doku than Grealish.

During the latter stages of the season, the Spanish manager preferred Doku on the left wing over the English international. It is also revealed that Guardiola penalized Grealish, who did not travel for the game against Fulham earlier this month. Reports suggest the manager was not satisfied with him in training. Meanwhile, the Belgian has been a blessing for the club. With pacy dribbling and running deep into the opponent’s box, Doku threatened to contribute most of the time.

Despite only starting 22 games, the player has managed 7 goals and 10 assists in 45 appearances. On the other hand, Grealish’s run has been troublesome this season.

Jack Grealish acknowledges his sub-par season after Pep Guardiola’s chastening

Scoring just 11 goals and assisting 15 times in his first two seasons, Grealish was lucky with the other players filling the gap. However, the club was put to the test this season with key players, including Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland suffering injuries. Hence Pep expected a bit more from the former Aston Villa player, but Grealish could start just 10 Premier League games and score three goals and three assists this season.

Talking about it, Grealish stated, “It’s been a difficult season for me personally, after the highs of last year,” but is confident of making a comeback. He further stated, “I owe him a little bit and want to repay him now with my performances and the team as well.” The 29-year-old had multiple issues this season, which frustrated the manager.

Grealish sustained a hamstring injury in September 2023, followed by a recurrent groin injury in February which kept him sidelined when the club needed him. Nevertheless, Pep has given him another chance, and whether he will make it count, only time will reveal.