Pep Guardiola is about to see if his risk on £300k-a-week Man City man has paid off

Pep Guardiola is about to see if his risk on £300k-a-week Man City man has paid off

Pep Guardiola doesn’t tend to pull many punches and, just like the wind, that can blow both ways.

 

Man management is such a delicate game and one miss step can sink a player completely.

 

Or, in the recent case of Troy Deeney at Forest Green Rovers, put a manager out of a job quicker than you can say: “I would have preferred to watch Antiques Roadshow.”

 

With his three Champions Leagues and umpteen league titles in the bag, Guardiola has a bit more leeway to criticise his players than others.

 

But even a manager as revolutionary and successful as the Manchester City boss can make misjudgements.

 

Kalvin Phillips recently opened up on how the manager publicly outing him for returning to City training overweight came as a ‘big knock on my confidence.’

 

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The defensive midfielder never looked like making an impact at the Etihad Stadium but his fate was sealed when Guardiola’s comment hurt too much to be a motivator.

 

The Blues boss said plenty of complimentary things about Phillips either side of the comment, explaining how important he was to the group, but no one really remembers that and it struck as faint praise.

 

That’s a balance managers must strike and Guardiola has taken a risk by pointedly calling out another player. This time Jack Grealish.

 

Pep Guardiola and Jack Grealish.

Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images

What Pep Guardiola said on Jack Grealish

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s game against Everton, Guardiola explained why Grealish hasn’t been starting much recently. He said: “This season was not like last season, but he’s getting better.

 

“This season lately he is getting better and we’re looking forward. He’s doing the steps to get to his best level and now is competing with players at a high level.

 

“This is the only reason why. He has to demand himself to get back where he was especially last season and all the time in Villa. I’m looking forward to give him minutes.”

 

A big reaction needed from Jack Grealish

Grealish can now go one of two ways after the potentially harsh but completely fair criticism: Let it get him down and knock his confidence or prove his manager wrong.

 

The £300k-a-week man was pivotal to City’s treble triumph but has seen himself out of the side in recent weeks, not starting in the Premier League in 2024.

 

The exciting Jeremy Doku’s arrival as well as Phil Foden’s fantastic form has given Grealish significant competition and chances have been at a minimum.

 

Guardiola is ‘looking forward’ to playing him, though, and that chance should come in Tuesday’s Champions League last 16 first leg against FC Copenhagen.

 

Though by no means pushovers, City are obviously the clear favourites against the Danes and there is scope for changes to be made to the starting XI.

 

Additionally, Guardiola likes keeping the ball more in Europe which Grealish helps to do.

 

Should he get back in the side for the first time since the FA Cup win over Huddersfield Town, then Grealish has to take his chance with both hands.

 

If he doesn’t perform and get back to where he was last season then his starts could become even fewer and further between.

 

Either way, Guardiola is about to learn if his risk has paid off.