When Pep Guardiola opted to bench Jack Grealish once again for Manchester City’s Monday night match against Brentford, it reportedly didn’t sit well with the player. Despite Grealish’s absence from the starting lineup, Manchester City secured a 3-1 victory thanks to a hat-trick from Phil Foden.
Initially, Brentford took the lead through Neil Maupay, but Foden’s remarkable performance turned the tide in favor of Guardiola’s squad, pushing them two points ahead of Liverpool with just one game left in the season. This victory marked City’s twelfth consecutive win, as they aimed to replicate their success from the previous season.
Speculation suggests that Grealish harbors dissatisfaction with Guardiola’s decisions regarding the starting lineup, especially as he finds himself benched for the fourth consecutive game. Allegedly, Grealish’s discontent was palpable enough for him to leave the team’s training session prematurely ahead of their match against Brentford in West London.
Throughout the current season, Grealish has made eighteen starts for Manchester City, with five appearances as a substitute. Despite City’s convincing victory against Brentford, Grealish’s frustration at his limited playing time is understandable.
Looking ahead, Manchester City is set to face Everton in the Premier League on Saturday. A win in this fixture would propel them above Liverpool in the standings. While Guardiola’s decisions may be justified by the team’s successful performances, Grealish’s desire for more game time remains a point of contention.
As Manchester City continues their pursuit of domestic success, the relationship between Guardiola and Grealish, as well as the player’s role within the squad, will undoubtedly attract attention and speculation from fans and pundits alike.
