Jack Grealish: The Key to Manchester City’s Treble Chase
Manchester City’s Jack Grealish has become an integral part of the team’s chase for a remarkable Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup Treble. The England midfielder has matured into an outstanding all-round player with exceptional decision-making skills. Grealish’s slightly cheeky persona, which Aston Villa fans fell in love with, has endeared him to City’s fanbase.
Grealish’s time at City has not always been fun, as he acknowledged in January when he said that leaving hometown club Villa in August 2021 and adapting to Pep Guardiola’s style of play had been « much more difficult » than he imagined. However, he finds himself on the cusp of greatness at City, who are two wins from becoming only the second English team to win the Treble, after Manchester United in 1998-99.
Grealish’s statistics show why he has become as important for Guardiola as midfielder Kevin de Bruyne or record-breaking forward Erling Haaland. He has created 35 chances in this season’s Champions League alone, with the final against Inter Milan still to come in Istanbul on 10 June. That’s the most on record by an English player in a single season. Grealish is so strong, he is difficult to knock off the ball and helps City control the game in a role that is as important as providing assists and scoring goals.
Grealish’s Influence Goes Beyond Statistics
Grealish’s influence goes beyond statistics. He has led the way in terms of wingers with the best passing accuracy on the Premier League stage, while his ball retention stats are also the best for his position. Grealish has had the odd lapse in discipline since joining City and was dropped along with Phil Foden in December 2021 after the pair were pictured in a nightclub. However, another example of Grealish’s influence has been his successful partnership with Nathan Ake down the left, which has worked well during City’s chase for trophies.
Grealish has worked hard to win Guardiola’s trust, and he has become almost undroppable for the big games. His value to the team is much more than just goals and assists. Grealish controls the game the way Pep wants, and he looks like he is enjoying his football. His recent video message to a City fan in the intensive care unit at Leighton Hospital, in Crewe, shows that he is not just a great player but also a great human being.
Keywords: Jack Grealish, Manchester City, Treble, Pep Guardiola, Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Aston Villa, Nathan Ake, Phil Foden.
