Grealish: “I feel at times I’ve played a bit safe at City”

Manchester City forward Jack Grealish gave an eye-catching interview away on International duty with England claiming the rigidity under Pep Guardiola while expressing his desire to transform his ‘good’ International form at the club level.

Grealish voiced his opinion about playing with more ‘freedom’ under England manager Gareth Southgate where he finds his true form, creativity and pace which is hard to find in a Pep Guardiola system.

“I do feel like I play with a lot more freedom here [with England],” he said.

“That’s what the manager [Gareth Southgate] asked me to do – go on and be myself and try to create and that’s what I did,  I feel sometimes when I’m here I can try to play with as much freedom as possible. I felt like I did that on this occasion.”

“I feel at times I’ve played a bit safe at City” he explained.

“But when I come here I feel like even in training I train really well. I score goals and get assists.”

“When I come on the pitch… it’s hard to explain. I do feel like I play with a lot more freedom here and hopefully, I can transfer that into my club football and keep on improving.”

Jack Grealish reinstated the fact that he performs a lot better in an independent and free system managed by Southgate. In his next words, he explains Pep’s system which is a lot more ‘structured’ relying on the chemistry and ability to retain possession while playing in a patient way – an absolute contrast to Gareth’s system of playing where players have a ‘free-form’ role higher up the pitch.

“Pep’s a lot more structured. You can’t complain because of what he’s done in the game, and how successful he is. Whereas Gareth obviously has a formation and a structure, but he says to me if I feel like I need to go to the other side of the pitch to get the ball then go and do that.

‘Hopefully, I can transfer that to City. But I went to City to win titles and that was one of the best days ever.

‘I think it’s something I’ll never, ever forget because it was my first. Hopefully, it’s a little bit of relief off my shoulders, you know.

‘I’ve come to City to win stuff and that’s my first one, so hopefully a few more”.

Grealish further states that he is yet to have a chat with Guardiola regarding his position at Manchester City and how will he play next season:

“I didn’t speak to [Guardiola at the end of the season]. We had a laugh and a joke about certain stuff, that’s the game, just stuff about ourselves, and obviously, I’ll speak to him next year when I get back, but I’m fine, honestly, I’m enjoying myself at City.”

Jack Grealish is in contention to secure his 23rd international cap for England as they face Italy at the Molineux on Saturday.