Jack Grealish has labelled Erling Haaland the "best professional I have ever seen" but is not willing to copy the Norwegian's lifestyle.
Grealish, 27, is enjoying a brilliant campaign with Manchester City. He's scored five goals and provided 11 assists to give them a chance of becoming the first team since Manchester United to win the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in the same season.
Yet Haaland, 23, is on another level. The forward has scored 51 goals and provided eight assists to lead City's treble charge. Haaland has even encouraged Grealish to mirror his methods – only for the former Aston Villa skipper to respond with a hilarious remark.
Grealish is known for having a busy lifestyle outside of football. He was spotted sinking plenty of beers after City won the Premier League title last season, and he was invited to Elton John's dressing room for a meet and greet after a recent concert.
Grealish was asked about his lifestyle during a recent interview with the Daily Mail. He said: "Everyone is different aren't they?
"Look at Erling. He is the best professional I have ever seen. His mindset is something you won't see again. He does everything. Recovers. In the gym. 10 hours of treatment a day. Ice baths. Diet. That's why he is what he is. But I swear I couldn't be like that.
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"We have a great friendship, but he will point at me after a game and say: 'Hey. Don't you go out tonight partying'. I just tell him to shut up and go and sit in his ice bath. But that's us... if he did what I occasionally did he would be like, 'F****** hell I feel terrible today'."
Grealish faced criticism following his £100million move from Villa to City in August 2021. The winger found himself in and out of Pep Guardiola's starting XI, with some critics questioning whether he was good enough to play for the Champions League favourites.
Yet Grealish is now a regular fixture in Guardiola's side. As for Haaland, the striker has broke numerous records since his £51m move from Borussia Dortmund last summer. He became the first player to score 35 goals in a Premier League campaign by scoring in City's 3-0 win against West Ham on Wednesday, with the Golden Boot all but secured.
Grealish has pinned his good form on feeling "confident" rather than changing his methods.
He added: "Sometimes I like to go out and let my hair down. I am not gonna sit here and lie and say I don't go out. What's the point? It's also pointless telling you I am here at 8am going in the gym and that's the reason I am playing well. It's not.
"The reason I am playing well is because I feel fit, confident, good in myself and like I am at home here. But I still love an occasional drink and going out with my friends. That's just normal."
