Jack Grealish Reflects on Manchester City Struggles

Jack Grealish has shed light on the struggles that defined his time at Manchester City, admitting that some of his decisions off the pitch contributed to his inconsistent form. The 29-year-old forward, who joined City from Aston Villa in 2021 for a British-record £100 million fee, was expected to be one of the Premier League’s most influential players. While he eventually became part of City’s historic treble-winning squad, his time at the Etihad was far from smooth sailing.

In a candid conversation with Sky Sports, Grealish spoke honestly about what went wrong during his spell in Manchester and how his recent move to Everton has given him a fresh start.

Balancing Lifestyle and Performance

Grealish’s off-field lifestyle has often made headlines, with pictures of his nights out widely circulated on social media. He acknowledged that while he enjoys having fun, there were moments when his timing was questionable.

“People go, ‘he likes to go out, he likes to party’, and I do,” he said. “I want to be able to live my life and enjoy myself, but obviously there’s a time and a place to do that. Sometimes, I’ll be honest with you, I probably haven’t picked the right times.”

The England international admitted that these choices “didn’t help” his situation at City but was quick to clarify that they weren’t the sole reason for his struggles. “At City, I didn’t help myself at times, I’ll openly say that, but then I don’t think it was all down to that,” he explained.

His honesty gives a rare insight into the pressures faced by elite footballers, especially those carrying record-breaking transfer fees and sky-high expectations. Grealish’s every performance was scrutinized, with fans and pundits quick to point fingers whenever his output fell short.

Freedom Under Moyes

Another challenge Grealish faced at Manchester City was adapting to Pep Guardiola’s tactical system, which places heavy emphasis on structure and positional discipline. Grealish hinted that this style sometimes restricted his creativity, something he feels has been unlocked again under David Moyes at Everton.

“I don’t mean this in an arrogant way but I do like it when managers say, ‘you’re the footballer, go and do what you want to do’,” he said. “I’d rather someone just be like, ‘when you get the ball Jack, just go and play’.”

Since joining Everton, Grealish has flourished, rediscovering the form that made him a fan favourite at Aston Villa. The forward has already picked up a Premier League Player of the Week award and continues to be one of Everton’s standout performers this season. He credits Moyes for trusting him to play with freedom and express himself on the pitch.

“Obviously, you have your jobs. You have roles to do without the ball and set pieces, but he says to me, ‘when you get the ball just go and do what you want to do’,” Grealish added.

Read also: City Survive Burnley Scare

Grealish’s reflections offer a reminder of how much environment and managerial approach can influence a player’s performance. As he continues to thrive at Everton, many fans are wondering if the best of Jack Grealish is yet to come, and whether Manchester City might look back on his departure with a tinge of regret.