England boss Lee Carsley issues direct response to Pep Guardiola over Jack Grealish call-up criticism | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has received a response from England interim head coach Lee Carsley following criticism of the national team set-ups recent call-up of Jack Grealish.

The 29-year-old was selected for duty with the Three Lions last week ahead of England’s upcoming duo of UEFA Nations League contests, despite not featuring in any of Manchester City’s recent contests across competitions.

Grealish had sustained a muscular problem during the training session that immediately followed the club’s dramatic 1-2 victory over Wolves at Molineux, and was subsequently ruled out of action for several weeks.

However, upon returning to light training in the gym at Manchester City’s training centre and after one on-field session with his teammates, England felt it necessary to select Grealish for action and promised to make an assessment on his fitness upon meeting at St George’s Park.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was left far from impressed by the conduct of Lee Carsley and the England set-up, insisting during a press conference that the Three Lions’ interim boss did not contact the club over Grealish’s fitness.

Guardiola said, “It’s his decision. In 17 days he (Jack Grealish) didn’t train once. Today was the first training and trained 20 minutes. So, this is the reality.”

He continued, “I’m not to say, ‘You can’t go!’ All I’ve said is for my team, tomorrow, he’s not fit… Since a little more than two weeks, he didn’t train. And people from England believe he can help them.”

However, Jack Grealish’s fitness would prove to be sub-par and England took the decision to permit a withdrawal from the squad earlier this week, leaving Lee Carsley with an explanation to hand out and a response to issue to Pep Guardiola and Manchester City.

Speaking ahead of England’s upcoming UEFA Nations League contests, Carsley responded to criticism of England and the FA when it came to selecting Grealish for international action despite his fitness concerns.

“So the medical teams are constantly talking throughout squad selection, regardless of whether there are games or not. We are constantly getting updates,” Carsley explained.

He continued, “The medical departments have brilliant communication between club and country. It was always the case we were going to get the players who were potentially going to miss out in to be assessed.

“Jack (Grealish) was one of them. He was assessed and sent back and it was as clear as that.”

Alongside Grealish, Manchester City’s Phil Foden also exited the England camp due to fitness concerns, leaving both Rico Lewis and Kyle Walker as the Premier League champions’ only representatives within the Wembley contingent.