Pep Guardiola admits Jack Grealish has deserved to play more for Manchester City this season and insists he holds no personal grudge against the England winger.
Despite a season of underachievement and a lengthy injury list that has included Grealish, the 29-year-old has remained a peripheral figure for the defending Premier League champions with Jeremy Doku and Savinho regularly preferred in the wide midfield slots.
Grealish is likely to play in the FA Cup fourth-round tie at Leyton Orient tomorrow with City looking to bounce back from last Sunday’s disappointing 5-1 capitulation at Arsenal.
Asked about the former Aston Villa man, Guardiola said: “I’m so sorry they don’t get the minutes that maybe they deserve but at the end, the contributions from Jeremy [Doku] or Savinho have been massive this season. This is the only reason why; it’s not personal, or I don’t like Jack, or I don’t have confidence in him.
“The manager has to sometimes select one player in front of another, not just because you don’t like the other one, but because a player can give you in the certain moment of a season, right now better. No more than that.
“Of course I make mistakes and maybe he should play in other games, or maybe players who play shouldn’t, but it’s my world, my life, and you have to accept it.”
Orient will ‘bring trouble’
Leyton Orient are going well in League One and Guardiola is not expecting an easy afternoon at Brisbane Road.
He added: “Yeah of course [they will bring trouble].
“Always we’ve had problems away in this competition, FA Cup or Carabao Cup, away to teams in the Championship or League One or even League Two.
“Always we struggle. But we are ready for the challenge. Every game is a new opportunity.”
PEP 💬 (On Nico) It’s a position that we were weak since the absence of Rodri. He’s a young player… he can play 6 or 8… he’s a strong boy. I know him from Barcelona and his father was working here. Really pleased for the Club and looking ahead to the next years. pic.twitter.com/Chg9pu9Ckg
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 7, 2025
Guardiola pleased with Gonzalez capture
Deadline day signing Nico Gonzalez could make his debut for City following his move from Porto and Guardiola is pleased to have him on board.
He said: “It’s a position where we were weak after the absence from Rodri.
“A young player, 23-years-old, can play number six and number eight, more in the pockets. Physicality – he’s a strong young boy.
“I know him from the Barcelona academy and his father was working here. I’m really pleased from the effort of the club to bring him here for the next years.”