Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola can only count the FA Community Shield as their share of silverware for this season.
Man City's underwhelming run in the ongoing campaign saw them dropping ranks in the Premier League table, and getting eliminated from the EFL Cup and the Champions League. They currently stand sixth in the league table with two matches remaining.
With their recent defeat in the FA Cup final, Guardiola's squad are left to fight for a top-five finish in the league to ensure a spot in the Champions League next season.
As the campaign nears its end, certain changes are anticipated at the Etihad for a better run in the upcoming campaign. While many players witnessed a drop in form this term, Jack Grealish is one of the prominent names among those.
While once a key player in Guardiola's squad, Grealish has started in only 16 out of his 31 appearances this season, during which he netted three goals and five assists.
His absence from action has led to many questions, with the most recent one being in the FA Cup final, where Guardiola opted for 19-year-old Claudio Echeverri over Grealish to replace Omar Marmoush in the 76th minute.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
This also brought in criticism for Grealish from Premier League legend Alan Shearer, who claimed that the Englishman's time at the Etihad is coming to an end.
Now, Guardiola has given his take on Grealish's future at Man City.
What did Pep Guardiola say about Jack Grealish?
Speaking ahead of Man City's Premier League clash against Bournemouth on May 20, Guardiola addressed (comments via The Guardian) the questions about Grealish's future at the club.
"We didn’t talk, I didn’t talk with him. People don’t believe me, but these things belong to the agents and the club and Txiki, and in this case Hugo as well. Both will decide. What is going to happen will happen, but he has to come back to start to play minutes again," said the Catalan manager.
"It’s not [only] Jack. There is not one player in my locker room, and I think all the locker rooms around the world, that is happy [when they] do not play. When the team is winning and winning they have to figure out how everything happens – but they are not happy. They are here to play and, when they don’t play, they are not satisfied. That is the normal position in all the clubs,” added Guardiola.
Grealish is currently contracted with Man City until the summer of 2027. With the summer transfer window approaching, it remains to be seen what the club authorities decide for the English star.
Man City news and related links
- Kevin De Bruyne makes thoughts clear on Man City Club World Cup decision
- Pep Guardiola trophies won as manager: List of titles with Manchester City, Barcelona and Bayern Munich
- Crystal Palace vs. Man City final score: Eagles stun Guardiola to lift FA Cup after Eze, Henderson heroics