Jack Grealish has bluntly admitted that his current form doesn’t merit a place in the England squad. Thomas Tuchel, England’s manager, also conceded that Grealish’s penchant for being photographed on boozy nights out during the season is “not ideal”. The £100million Manchester City star has had a “stop-start” season, according to a conversation he had with Tuchel.
Tuchel expressed his admiration for Grealish, saying: “I love Jack. As a headline, I love Jack. I love everything about him. I love his personality, I love his quality. The guy has courage, he can take the heat, he’s not afraid of the Bernabaeu whistles when he’s on the ball, it does not affect him and if it affects him only in the best way. So is he a player that should be available and can have an impact in our squad? Yes, 100 per cent.”
However, Tuchel acknowledged Grealish’s recent struggles, agreeing with the player’s self-assessment: “But lately, he simply has no rhythm and he himself and I agree 100 per cent with this, he said ‘listen Thomas, I’m not a start-stop player. It is so hard for me to influence a match from the bench and then be on the bench again, and then two weeks later I start again’.
“The more he plays the better he gets and then he becomes a proper machine. And he has, of course, a character to him that he can be the glue also in the team. It’s very easy for youngsters and for experienced players to be attached to him and to be close to him.
“But this comes also with responsibility off the pitch and, of course, it’s not ideal that he’s in the newspapers and out there in public. But it was a sporting choice and in his position Anthony Gordon is just more rhythm, more minutes.”
While Grealish, at 29, has already earned 39 caps, he seems to have slipped out of favour at Manchester City, despite being an integral figure during Lee Carsley’s short stint as England’s caretaker manager.
This article first appeared on The Mirror.
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