Guardiola questions Grealish's fitness for England's upcoming matches.© (@City_HQs)
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has shown unhappiness with England’s interim manager, Lee Carsley, for choosing Jack Grealish to play in the upcoming Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland. The 29-year-old winger, who has been injured, has yet to feature for Manchester City since their 3-2 win over Wolves on October 20, shortly after the previous international break.
Guardiola Questions Grealish’s Fitness for England Duty
In his response to the England squad announcement, Guardiola raised concerns about Grealish’s fitness, highlighting that the player needed to have appropriately trained in the 17 days before his selection. Guardiola clarified that Jack Grealish had only participated in a brief 20-minute training session on the call-up day, and his gym work over the past few days was limited.
“National teams always play during this period, and I’m always pleased for players to go when they are fit and have not struggled for the past one, two, or even four weeks,” Guardiola stated. “In 17 days, Jack didn’t train once. Today was his first training session, which lasted 20 minutes. That is the reality.”
While Carsley justified the selection by mentioning that Grealish had been training for “a couple of days” and would be assessed upon arrival at the England camp, Guardiola remained unconvinced about the winger’s readiness for international duty. The Manchester City manager emphasized that he had not been informed of any discussions between the England management and the club’s medical team regarding Grealish’s fitness.
Grealish’s Injury Setbacks and Lack of Match Fitness
Jack Grealish has struggled to find his form this season, managing only two assists for Manchester City and failing to score a goal. His poor start to the campaign followed a challenging summer, which saw him miss out on Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad. Despite this, Grealish returned to training early, aiming to prove himself. However, his injury issues have hindered his progress, preventing him from maintaining consistent fitness.
Guardiola explained that Grealish had suffered multiple injury setbacks, making it difficult to regain his rhythm and form. The Manchester City manager also pointed out that other players, including Grealish’s teammates Kyle Walker and John Stones, had also experienced injury issues, which have added to the team’s challenges this season.
Manchester City Facing Injury Crisis
Manchester City has been grappling with a series of injury concerns this season. Along with Grealish, key players such as Kyle Walker, John Stones, and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri have all been injured. Rodri, in particular, has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury. Meanwhile, playmaker Kevin de Bruyne is still working his way back into the squad after a spell on the sidelines. Jeremy Doku and Nathan Ake have also been unavailable for recent fixtures, further compounding Guardiola’s injury woes.
Guardiola Prepares for Brighton Match Amidst Tough Run
With these injury challenges, Pep Guardiola is heading into Manchester City’s upcoming Premier League match against Brighton to avoid four consecutive defeats for the first time in his managerial career. The team has suffered away losses to Tottenham, Bournemouth, and Sporting in the past ten days, leaving Guardiola under pressure to turn the team’s fortunes around.
Guardiola confirmed that he would not be travelling to Abu Dhabi during the upcoming international break as he focuses on addressing the current struggles within his squad. His future at Manchester City remains uncertain, with his contract expiring at the season’s end. Guardiola has not committed to a new deal yet, and when asked about his contract, he declined to discuss it further, saying, “When it happens, it happens. We’re in touch regularly, and what happens is always for the benefit of the club.
Pep Guardiola’s concerns over Jack Grealish’s fitness and selection for the England squad have sparked discussion about the communication between club and country regarding player readiness. Despite Grealish’s recent injury struggles, England manager Lee Carsley included him in the Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland, citing his return to training. However, with Manchester City’s injury crisis deepening, Guardiola will be keen to manage his players’ fitness as the season progresses carefully.
