Pep Guardiola backed Jack Grealish to add more goals and assists to his game as he looks to build on his best spell at Manchester City.
Grealish has come in for criticism for his record since his £100m transfer in 2021 as well as his performances, with Guardiola launching a number of staunch defences of the player that have included his claim that he is not in the team to score or assist. Since the latest backing, Grealish has produced three of his most promising performances in a City shirt with impressive outings against Wolves, Manchester United and Copenhagen.
The player spoke after the midweek win about feeling more like himself and playing with a smile on his face, and Guardiola has noticed the change in the former Villa man even if he has always been happy with him. Just as many City signings have taken a year to adapt to what is expected of them before they start to shine, the signs are there for Grealish.
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"Sometimes people need time to realise what they have to do and we are very pleased. The last game and the previous game he played against United, he's played really good," said Guardiola.
"Maybe he understands a little bit more - he came from another reality before - but of course confidence is an important part of development. He can do it and he can prove whatever he wants. He's more aggressive. Every player feels that."
Grealish still wants more goal contributions though. He knows that he needs to score more and it appears a disservice to his contributions to the last three games that he has not produced a goal or assist in City's last 13 goals.
Guardiola does not expect that there is a clinical finisher in Grealish that can shoot up the scoring charts; the winger has never been that player throughout his career. However, the City coach did back the 27-year-old to start producing regularly and believes he has the talent to take his game to the next level.
"I had the feeling that the moment the first and the second, the rest will come," said Guardiola. What's important is how he is trying and he never will be a top, top scorer but this is the next step.
"You can learn. If you said I'm going to make the next step in my career to try to make more goals and assists, he can do it."
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