Pep Guardiola has backed Jack Grealish to return to type subsequent season following a tricky 2023/24 marketing campaign.
Grealish joined Manchester Metropolis from Aston Villa again in August 2021 for £100m which, on the time, was the most important switch deal in British soccer historical past.
The winger instantly grew to become a preferred determine amongst Metropolis supporters, notching 11 targets and 15 assists throughout all competitions over his first two seasons with the membership — profitable two league titles and the treble in 2022/23.
Nonetheless, this season has confirmed far tougher for the 35-time England worldwide, who struggled with a hamstring harm early within the marketing campaign and by no means fairly recovered his type. Additional health points continued to plague him, at the same time as Metropolis went on to win a fourth straight Premier League title.
Grealish ended 2023/24 with simply three targets and three assists to his title throughout all competitions, whereas he managed solely 10 begins within the Premier League.
Again in April, Grealish admitted himself that it hasn’t been an awesome yr.
“It’s been troublesome (this season),” he advised The Athletic. ‘Particularly on the again of final yr, I had such a superb season. I used to be taking part in quite a bit and was one of many foremost gamers within the group and taking part in in all of the vital video games.
“This yr at the beginning of the season I had a lifeless leg which stored me out for a month after which I didn’t play too typically. I don’t suppose my type was one of the best and I wasn’t taking part in with plenty of confidence. Within the new yr, I had just a few accidents once more as properly with my groin.”
Guardiola backs Grealish resurgence
The unimaginable type of Phil Foden and summer time signing Jeremy Doku hitting the bottom working shortly didn’t assist Grealish’s trigger this season.
Nonetheless, the previous Villa man has been backed by his supervisor, who’s ‘certain’ he’ll rediscover his type from 2022/23 quickly sufficient.
“He will probably be again,” stated Guardiola (through BBC Sport).
“He’s struggled this season and Jeremy has made an unimaginable step ahead as everybody has seen within the final video games. However Jack will probably be again on the stage of final season, I’m fairly certain.”
Regardless of his struggles, Grealish has nonetheless made Gareth Southgate’s provisional squad for Euro 2024 and is anticipated to make the ultimate lower.
