Referee Michael Salisbury’s whistle to signal half-time was a starting pistol for Pep Guardiola, who raced off in completely the wrong direction.
Guardiola found himself on the pitch, seeking out Kevin De Bruyne near the penalty area for something that clearly could not wait for the dressing room.
The pair embraced, Guardiola slapping his captain on the waist while gesturing thanks, after recognising the defensive effort De Bruyne had put in moments before, hindering West Ham’s chances of nicking a goal back. He values effort, Guardiola, but smart effort.
De Bruyne thwarted one move, then bought a free-kick to slow the flow. It’s what Jack Grealish has done for this City team in the past and yet the winger again sat watching De Bruyne on the bench, nodding in approval.
That bit of play from De Bruyne is Grealish all over but Grealish doesn’t do it any more. He sits on the sideline. At 29, his career — at City and beyond — is at a crossroads. Aside from De Bruyne’s clever work, Savinho’s emergence over recent games has brought that more sharply into focus.
Savinho added two assists against West Ham to one at Leicester the previous weekend. That is one more than Grealish has managed in the Premier League since the start of last season, in which time he has played 1,578 minutes of football.
Pep Guardiola’s half time interaction with Kevin de Bruyne shone a spotlight on where it’s going wrong for Jack Grealish at Manchester City
Guardiola gave Grealish a kick up the behind post-match, saying he isn’t in ‘shape’
Grealish’s game is not all about numbers, but here is a stark comparison with a rival for the same position in City’s front line.
And Guardiola gave Grealish a kick up the behind post-match in what felt like pointed remarks when asked if Savinho’s form could be a catalyst for the England man to get back to his best.
‘It’s easy,’ Guardiola started. ‘As much as he looks at himself, he will see the competition. He has to compete with himself. Savinho is in better shape and everything than Jack and that’s why I played Savinho.
‘I want the Jack that won the Treble. I want it. But I try to be honest with myself for that. What happened with Savinho’s delivery in the box? It’s higher than the other wingers in that position.
‘And they have to fight. You can say, “OK, it’s unfair”. If you think that, then it’s fine. But you have to prove, “I’m going to fight with Savinho, to deserve to play in that position”. Every single day, and every single week and every single month.’
Every single day. Fight against himself. There aren’t even any lines to read between here. As City look to add Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush to their squad this month, a player who can operate wide as well as through the
middle, the message could not be clearer for Grealish, somebody who was so integral to the club’s greatest campaign.
Grealish spoke candidly last season about struggling with the post-Treble comedown, and there had been vague references to training levels. That should be long in the past and the expectation was he would hit the ground running this time after the heartache of missing out on England’s Euros squad — especially after putting himself through rigorous off-season training.
He hasn’t, finishing only one of his six league starts, and now comes the time for him to stand up. If not, others will pass him.
‘I don’t have any doubt about the quality of Jack or any of these players. They would not be here otherwise,’ Guardiola added. ‘At 3pm, they have to be at their best. It’s not about what they have done or will do, it’s about 3pm.
‘I know he can do it because I saw him, I saw his level and I want that, every single training session and every single game. If not, Savinho… is there anyone in this room (who thinks) Savinho doesn’t deserve to play right now? No. He deserves it. That’s why I play him — because he produces.’
Grealish performed fairly well in the defeat at Aston Villa on December 21 before being described as ‘not fully fit’ for the Boxing Day draw with Everton.
Grealish, a hero of City’s treble triumph in 2023, has seen his form fall off a cliff
Savinho has outshone the Englishman, who failed to score a goal for City in 2024
Guardiola refused to believe City are back to their best yet as they recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since October
Savinho and Haaland have began to form an understanding that can get the club back to winning matches consistently
Guardiola talked about how ‘almost all’ of City’s players want to ‘fight’ to arrest these mixed performances — and this was mixed, despite the scoreline — while praising Nathan Ake for playing through the pain barrier for a third straight game. Savinho appears to be another stepping up, steaming straight through an open door with others missing.
‘I’m still adapting, I don’t speak English,’ said the Brazilian. ‘When I start speaking English, I’ll be comfortable in the group.’
His link-up with Erling Haaland, setting up both of the Norwegian’s goals, is definitely something to harness. ‘He understands me and I understand him,’ Savinho added. ‘I usually pass the ball to him because I know he won’t waste it and he’ll score. Whenever he’s in the area, I’m always looking to get the ball to him.’
More of that and City win more games — and Grealish will have to be content to watch on.
