‘He’s so famous’ – Pep Guardiola gives blunt nine-word answer when asked about Jack Grealish’s night out at social club

2 days ago 57

PEP GUARDIOLA appears to be growing frustrated with Jack Grealish’s high jinks off the park.

The £100million star was pictured in the North East’s North Biddick Social Club on Sunday night clearly enjoying himself.

Jack Grealish at a pub with two pints of beer.

He is understood to have put at least £500 behind the bar for the locals of the club that describes itself as “Washington’s No 1 entertainment venue”.

Last month, he was snapped leaving a swanky London eatery at the same time as a mystery blonde, quipping: “She’s not with me!”

Guardiola insists he is happy to let his players lead their own lives when they are off duty.

When asked about Grealish’s night out near Sunderland, he acidly replied: “He’s so famous. People follow him. Nothing to comment.”

The Manchester City boss went on to suggest that being Jack the lad is one thing, producing performances on the pitch is quite another.

Asked about his players’ behaviour when they have time to themselves, he said: “They know what they have to do.

“A day off is a day off, there is no training. They have private lives to do whatever they want. I’m not going to control what they do in their private life.

“I judge what I see on the pitch, the training sessions and the performances in the game.”

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Guardiola’s judgement of Grealish, who turns 30 in September, in terms of the number of games he is selecting him for, indicates that he is far from entertained.

City visit Nottingham Forest on Saturday in a clash crucial to both clubs’ chances of making next season’s Champions League.

Grealish impressed in a central midfield role the last time the sides met on December 4, with City winning 3-0.

But reminded of that display, edgy Pep replied: “That was a long time ago.”

Since then, Grealish has started only one Premier League game, in a 2–1 defeat against the Aston Villa team he left for City four years ago.

Pep did apologise to the Treble winner a month ago for not giving him enough minutes on the pitch, saying the performances of Jeremy Doku and Savinho had forced his hand.

But he also added: “Savinho is in better shape and everything than Jack and that’s why I play Savinho.

“You can say it’s unfair. If you think that, it’s fine, but you have to prove, ‘OK, I’m going to fight with Savinho, to deserve to play in that position’, every single day, every single week and every single month.”

Sympathy fading

Any lingering sympathy Guardiola still had for Grealish appears to be fading, and he stressed: “I wanted Jack at his best. But he had setbacks and didn’t play. That was sometimes for the injuries, he could not get the rhythm that you need for being ready every three days.”

Grealish did start in last Saturday’s 3-1 FA Cup fifth-round win over Plymouth but as part of an 11–change team.

But while Guardiola says he is fit to face Forest after seven days without a game, he is far from guaranteed a start.

Grealish’s dip in form this season — he has only two goals in 26 appearances — means he is sweating on being selected for Thomas Tuchel’s start as England manager.

Grealish wants England return

His first squad will be announced on Thursday for the World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia.

Guardiola said: “I want the best not just for Jack but for everyone.

“Jack played really good the last game and hopefully he can have the consistency and I understand all the frustrations of all my players.

“It’s so good to have a dream to play in the World Cup with his national team. I’m not bothered with that.

“What happens in terms of Jack, in terms of everyone, they will be treated at the end of the season but now we are playing for many important things.”

Meanwhile, Guardiola confirmed defender Nathan Ake will miss the rest of the season after foot surgery and now faces a race against time to be fit for this summer’s Club World Cup.

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