PHILADELPHIA – Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola had some honest words about English soccer star Jack Grealish, who was left out of the team traveling to the United States for the FIFA Club World Cup. Guardiola says Grealish needs to “rediscover his love for playing soccer” and get back to enjoying the game like he once did.
“Jack is an amazing player,” said Guardiola during a press conference in Philadelphia. “But last season, I made the choice not to play him as much. It wasn’t anything personal — it was just my decision as a coach.”
Who is Jack Grealish?
Jack Grealish is a 28-year-old soccer player from England who plays as a winger — that means he often attacks from the sides of the field and helps create goal-scoring chances. Grealish became well-known for his performances at Aston Villa, a Premier League team in England, where he was the team captain. In 2021, he moved to Manchester City, one of the best clubs in the world, for a record fee of £100 million (about $139 million) — the most expensive transfer for an English player at the time!
In 2023, Grealish was a big part of Manchester City’s historic treble — when a team wins the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League all in the same season. Only one other English club, Manchester United, has ever done that (in 1999).
But after that great season, things didn’t go so well for Grealish. In the season after the treble, he started only 10 games in the Premier League and made just 16 starts in all competitions — that’s not much for a player of his talent.
Guardiola’s Message: “Play With Passion Again”
Guardiola didn’t bring Grealish to the Club World Cup, which is being held in the U.S. this year. The coach explained, “We thought it was best for him to stay behind. He needs to find the joy he had when he played for Aston Villa or when we won the treble.”
He added, “Without Jack, we probably wouldn’t have been able to win everything we did in 2023. But over the last two seasons, he hasn’t played many minutes. Now, he has to get back to loving the game — to feeling those butterflies in his stomach before each match.”
Soccer Fact: Top players often play over 50 games a season when their teams compete in multiple tournaments like the Premier League, Champions League, and domestic cups.
Even though Grealish isn’t with the team now, Guardiola said that doesn’t mean he’s leaving Manchester City. “No, no,” he answered when asked about Grealish’s future. “For now, he’s just not here.”
What is the Club World Cup?
The FIFA Club World Cup is a tournament where the best soccer teams from each continent play to decide who is the world’s top club team. For example:
Wydad Casablanca represents Africa as past winners of the CAF Champions League.
Manchester City represents Europe after winning the UEFA Champions League.
Other teams represent South America, Asia, and other regions.
This year, the tournament is taking place in the United States, and City’s first game is against Wydad Casablanca from Morocco at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Soccer Fact: The Club World Cup is different from the World Cup for countries. In this tournament, clubs like Manchester City compete, not national teams like England or Brazil.
Guardiola warned his players not to underestimate their opponents. “Football has improved everywhere around the world,” he said. “These teams have quality players. We’re not taking anyone lightly.”
New Faces in the Manchester City Squad
City finished third in the English Premier League last season — lower than their usual top spot. To make the team stronger, they signed four new players:
Tijjani Reijnders – a Dutch midfielder known for his smart passes and work rate.
Rayan Cherki – a young, creative player from France who can dribble and assist.
Rayan Aït-Nouri – a left-back who defends well and supports attacks.
Marcus Bettinelli – a back-up goalkeeper with Premier League experience.
“We’re very happy with all of them,” said Guardiola. “They have a lot of talent and will help us in a season where we play every few days.”
Soccer Fact: In modern soccer, players often play 2 or 3 games a week, so teams need a big squad to handle injuries and fatigue.
Time for a Fresh Start
After a difficult season, Guardiola said the Club World Cup feels like a fresh start for his team.
“This is the beginning of the season for us,” he said. “In sports, what happened before doesn’t matter anymore. We start again from zero.”
He hopes this tournament can give City momentum going into the new campaign. “We’re here to compete and play good soccer,” Guardiola said. “We’ve prepared for Wydad and want to have a strong tournament.”
What’s Next for Jack Grealish?
Even though Jack Grealish isn’t in the squad right now, he still has time to bounce back. Many players go through tough times, especially when there’s pressure from fans and the media. If he can regain his confidence and play regularly, he could still become a star again for Manchester City — or maybe even for the England national team in future competitions like the UEFA Euro 2028 or the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Guardiola’s words show that he believes in Grealish’s talent — now it’s up to Jack to believe in himself.