Graeme Souness has once again expressed his disapproval of Jack Grealish, stating that the Manchester City player has not shown any improvement under the guidance of Pep Guardiola. Grealish, who had an impressive record at Aston Villa with six goals and twelve assists in 26 Premier League matches, made a high-profile move to Man City in August 2021 for a staggering £100 million. Despite facing challenges in his first season at the Etihad, the English international played a crucial role in helping his team secure their second consecutive Premier League title. However, it was in the 2022-2023 campaign that Grealish truly flourished, establishing himself as an indispensable member of Guardiola’s squad. With 50 appearances, five goals, and eleven assists, the 28-year-old played a key part in Man City’s victories in the FA Cup, Champions League, and Premier League, often featuring in important matches. Unfortunately, Grealish has experienced inconsistent playing time this season, with Jeremy Doku currently being favored as the starting left winger. Souness has openly admitted that he does not believe Grealish has made any progress under Guardiola and has even questioned the player’s impact at City. During an interview with talkSPORT, Souness stated, “I can’t say I’m his biggest fan. No.” When asked if Grealish has shown improvement since joining City, Souness responded, “No. I don’t see any changes. In fact, I think his statistics may be worse at City compared to his time at Villa.” The football pundit was then asked if Grealish has taken on more responsibilities since joining Guardiola’s team, to which Souness said, “Perhaps in terms of dropping back and showing more enthusiasm to contribute defensively. However, you don’t sign a player like him for his defensive abilities. When you spend £100 million on someone, you expect them to make a difference in the big matches, scoring and creating goals – and none of that has happened. Yes, he has won some significant trophies, but I would argue that he is playing in a very strong team.” This is not the first time Souness has criticized Grealish, as he previously advised the player to reflect on his performance when he was replaced by Doku in the starting line-up back in December. Grealish’s form this season has been inconsistent, and he has struggled to secure a consistent place in the team.
According to the Source caughtoffside.com