“I try to be honest” – Pep Guardiola issues new verdict on Jack Grealish’s Manchester City behaviour | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola continues to hold firm belief in the performances and standards held by Jack Grealish in training and on the pitch when handed Manchester City opportunities.

Grealish has played only 605 minutes in 16 Premier League appearances this season owing to recurring injuries and his inability to replicate his heroics from the 2022-23 treble season, which have seen the £100 million signing from 2021 play a fringe role again this term.

Guardiola has often stated he wants to see the best of Grealish but despite admitting the forward’s training performances have been satisfactory, the Manchester City manager did not call upon his most expensive signing in his side’s last two outings against Nottingham Forest and Brighton and Hove Albion.

There has been speculation surrounding Grealish and whether the ex Aston Villa captain will have a place in Guardiola’s new-look Manchester City from the onset of the 2025-26 season – ahead of Hugo Viana’s arrival as club sporting director this summer.

A series of reliable reports in England have intimated that as things stand, Grealish is likely to be leave the four-in-a-row Premier League champions as fifth-placed City seek a top-four Premier League finish to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Last week, Grealish – who was left out of the 2024 European Championship squad by Gareth Southgate last summer – was excluded from Thomas Tuchel’s first squad as England manager.

The 29-year-old will be keen to put a halt to his National Team woes by fighting his way into the Three Lions’ 2026 FIFA World Cup squad – be it at Manchester City or not.

Speaking in a press conference last week, Guardiola gave further encouragement on some minutes coming for Grealish in Manchester City’s Premier League and FA Cup run-in.

“Against Plymouth (Argyle), he (Grealish) played really good. But at the same time, you have Jeremy (Doku) – Jeremy has played really good in games against (Tottenham) Spurs, for example, or before Spurs here, he played, oh god, really good. And Savio is so active. This is what he’s realised,” Guardiola said.

“It’s not personal. People believe in players sometimes. Still now, after many years, they judge, ‘If I play fine, I don’t play as well’. It happens to all the managers of the teams. But it’s not about any other person. I want the best from Jack.

“I don’t know how many games he’s played with his National Team. Of course, I want it. I’m happy for them. I want the best of them. But they compete with players. Sometimes the players are good, I try to be honest.”

A FA Cup quarter-final tie against Bournemouth next awaits Manchester City after the international break, which could give the Blues time and space to rest and recover for what is their sole remaining shot at silverware this season.