Guardiola highlights Savinho’s form over Grealish

Jack Grealish has struggled to regain his place in Manchester City's lineup since returning from injury, with Savinho starting the last two games and excelling in the 4-1 win over West Ham with three assists.

Chirag

January 6, 2025

Jack Grealish And Savinho — Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images and Carl Recine/Getty Images

After returning from injury, Jack Grealish has found himself sidelined as Manchester City’s winger Savinho has been favored in the last two matches. In City’s emphatic 4-1 Premier League victory over West Ham on Saturday, Savinho stole the show with three assists. Following the game, manager Pep Guardiola expressed his belief that the summer signing is currently in “better shape and everything” than Grealish. Guardiola also hinted that the England international may not be putting forth his “best” efforts at the moment.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Guardiola said: “I fought hard for Jack, really hard to bring him here, urging him to rise to the challenge repeatedly. I know his potential, I’ve seen it, and I want that same level of performance—every training session, every game. If not, there’s Savinho. Does anyone think Savinho doesn’t deserve his spot? No. He’s earned it, and that’s why he plays. Jack needs to recognize the competition and push himself to meet it. Savinho is in better condition, and that’s why he’s starting. Of course, I want the Jack who helped us win the treble, but I also have to be fair with my decisions.”

Guardiola praised Savinho’s contributions, particularly his superior delivery in the box, and emphasized the need for players to consistently compete for their positions. “Two weeks ago, Jack was injured, and now he needs rhythm and training. I have no doubts about his quality or anyone else’s. But at this level, it’s about what you deliver right now—at 3 PM on match day—not what you’ve done in the past or might do in the future. For that 90 minutes, the responsibility lies with the players.”

Since joining City from Aston Villa in 2021 for a club-record £100 million ($124m), Grealish has struggled to replicate his previous form, scoring just 14 goals and providing 20 assists in 144 appearances. With Savinho thriving, the 29-year-old risks becoming a fringe player as the season unfolds.

City will kick off their FA Cup campaign on Saturday at home against League Two side Salford City. Grealish will be eager for an opportunity to feature and prove his worth, but whether Guardiola gives him that chance remains uncertain.