Jack Grealish says he will never change from being Jack The Lad.
And Grealish admits there is no point in denying that he loves being a party animal. But Grealish insists that he earned the right to celebrate in style after Manchester City’s treble and also that he has a “brilliant relationship” with Gareth Southgate.
England boss Southgate insisted there is a “line” when it comes to partying too hard but did not say whether Grealish crossed it. However, Grealish insists that, after the biggest and longest season of his life, no one can begrudge him letting his hair down.
Grealish, 27, said: “I don't think it is a party boy thing. I would never sit here and lie to you and say 'Yeah, I don't drink and I don't party' because I do but then there's so many people that will come here and say to you 'I don't do this, I don't do that' when they do.
“I'm just truthful because when you see me doing anything, you'd be like: 'Oh, hold on. He said a few weeks ago in an interview that he didn't do that.’ I knew what I was doing, that's just the way I am, I'm like that when I party usually. Actually, I'm not like that usually but we've won the Treble and it's something that will never happen again.
“So I went and enjoyed myself and I wasn't the only one - I think a lot of the time you'll see everyone recording me, I could show you all this stuff other people where they were the same. Listen, we all enjoyed ourselves, other people enjoy themselves where the cameras weren't but that was just me enjoying myself, I'd had the most successful season of my life.
“It is now June 19, I came into training last year on the 13th of July. Years ago, you'd have a season for nine months. But I’ve just laid out a 12 month season. I've been into a World Cup, I've won three trophies and then I'm going to be back training now in four weeks or so why not enjoy myself?"
Grealish took time not just to convince Southgate that he was worth a place in the England team but also Pep Guardiola because the £100m star was on the fringes in his first year at the Etihad. But the second year played out like a dream as he won the treble, went to the World Cup as a starter for England and there is no doubting that Southgate is on board now.
However, Southgate did not start him against North Macedonia - picking Marcus Rashford instead - and it remains to be seen whether the England manager will bring him straight back next time. But Grealish insists there is no issue between him and Southgate.
But Grealish said “I have a great relationship with him, honestly. A brilliant relationship. On the Sunday. I thought it was going to be a toss up with who plays. It could have been any of us. Me, Phil Foden or Rashy. Obviously, it was Rashy and you can’t complain. He’s obviously one of the most in form players in the world. It thought tonight he was absolutely unbelievable. I did. I thought he was so good.
“Obviously Saks scored the three goals but I thought Rashy in the first half was frightening. I come on tonight and I’m just happy. I’ve had a brilliant season, the most successful season of my life and I think there is a time now I can just six and relax.”
Grealish did also insist that it was not just him out on the lash in City’s three days of partying but the camera is focused on him. But now he will enjoy being out of the spotlight. He added: “I just think because behind closed doors I’m quite an emotional person, I’m so close with my family and stuff. As soon as we finished the game I had tears in my eyes, I was crying on the pitch.
“When I see my family, my mom, my little sister and stuff. It was just emotional, man. Then you my dad, my dad has took me to every game since I was six years old. Even last year you sit there and think, not have I made the right decision, but you know: ‘i’ve not had much game time, am I ever going to be a starter.’
“I come back from the World Cup and I come into the team, I’m one of the main players and then we go and win the Treble. It was so emotional, man, but it was good emotion if that makes sense.”
