Pep Guardiola Urges Out-Of-Favour Jack Grealish To Get Back 'Butterflies In His Stomach'

Last Updated:June 18, 2025, 14:26 IST

Grealish has found himself slide out of the team's starting unit, and the Spanish tactician called on the player to get back to his abilities.

Pep Guardiola. (X)

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola urged forward Jack Grealish to fight his way back into the pecking order after the Englishman was left out of the squad for the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup 2025 in the USA.

Grealish, who played a massive role in City’ treble-winning season, has found himself slide out of the team’s starting unit, and the Spanish tactician called on the player to get back to his abilities.

“Jack is an exceptional player. The only reason he didn’t play last season was of course my decisions," Guardiola said.

“We decided it was best that he stays and has a place where he can get back to what he was in the year of the treble or all his career at Aston Villa," he added.

“Without him it would have been more difficult to achieve what we did in the treble season, but the fact is that the last two seasons he has not played much minutes," the Catalan boss added.

“He has to get back to playing and having the butterflies in his stomach that he needs to play every three days," stated the City gaffer.

City bolstered their squad ahead of the revamped edition of the FIFA CWC with the signings of midfielders Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, defender Rayan Ait Nouri, and keeper Marcus Bettinelli.

“We are really pleased because all of them have huge quality," Guardiola said.

“With this incredible amount of games we have until the end of the season, 11 months, every three or four days, everyone is going to play," the 54-year-old continued.

City will clash against Wydad Casablanca in their opening game of the CWC at the Lincoln Financial Field and Guardiola reiterated that they aren’t taking the Moroccan side lightly.

“Football has grown up a lot all around the world. All these teams have individual quality," the Spaniard said.

“A good example is Riyad Mahrez from Algeria, Oh my God, what a player. They have incredible players," he recognised the depth of African football.

“We have huge, huge respect. We saw what we could see of them. We have a game plan, we are here to make a good tournament and tomorrow we start," Guardiola signed off.

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News sports » football Pep Guardiola Urges Out-Of-Favour Jack Grealish To Get Back 'Butterflies In His Stomach'