Pep Guardiola delivers verdict on Jack Grealish's private life & Man City future
- Jack Grealish was recently pictured at multiple pubs
- Pep Guardiola dismissed concerns over his player's private life
- The Man City manager was less definitive when discussing Grealish's future at City
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola dismissed concerns over Jack Grealish's active private life, but was less definitive when discussing the winger's future at the club.
Grealish has rarely produced his best form since completing a club-record £100m transfer to City in 2021, yet slumped to a new nadir in 2024. The injury-riddled forward failed to score a single club goal throughout the entire calendar year.
The 29-year-old has found the net twice so far in 2025, but is still striving for the consistent level of performance which Guardiola demands.
These struggles on the pitch have been compounded by heightened focus on Grealish's actions away from football. After City's FA Cup victory over Plymouth last weekend, the England international was spotted at multiple pubs in the north east. The Athletic claim that he spent more than £2,000 on drinks for others and was videoed "looking unsteady" by the evening's conclusion.
When these revelations were put to Guardiola at his press conference on Friday, the only disdain radiating out of the Catalan coach was towards the questioner. "They know what they have to do," he shrugged.
"A day off is a day off, there is no training. They have private lives to do whatever they want. I'm not going to control what they do in their private life. I judge what I see on the pitch, the training sessions and the performances in the game. That's where I judge the players."
Guardiola has not looked upon Grealish's performances on the pitch too kindly of late, particularly when compared to the ever-improving Savinho. Grealish hasn't started a single Premier League game since Christmas, despite being available for the majority of City's fixtures. This chronic absence has cast doubt over the forward's involvement for England and whether he will even be at the club next season.
"I understand all the frustrations of all my players," Guardiola acknowledged. "It's so good to have a dream to play in the World Cup and the European Cup with his national team. I'm not bothered by that. What happens in terms of Jack, in terms of everyone, they will be treated at the end of the season.
"But now we are playing for many important things for the club. I want the best not just for Jack but for everyone. He is a player for Man City. What will happen? I don't know what is going to happen."
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