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It was shortly before last season’s FA Cup final when Jack Grealish, increasingly frustrated with the direction of his campaign, had a crucial talk with Pep.
Ahead of the return leg against Manchester United at Wembley in May, Pep Guardiola took Grealish aside and told him to remember the difficulties of an injury-ravaged season and use that as motivation.
Another difficult moment followed, with the £100m signing from Manchester City not coming off the bench in that final.
Weeks later he suffered the “devastation” of being left out of England’s Euro 2024 squad, a decision that left many in the squad baffled.
England captain Harry Kane even contacted manager Gareth Southgate to try to find out the reasons for his exclusion on behalf of the players.
Grealish appeared to be at a crossroads. With just 10 league starts in 2023-24, and just three goals and three assists in all competitions, it was undoubtedly a season to forget. There was also the nightmare experience of a burglary at his Knutsford home, which took place last December while he was playing for City at Everton.
But it looks like Jack is back. Grealish has proven he can defy adversity throughout his career, and early signs suggest he will do so again.
Carsley’s summons
Last week he had just finished a training session at City’s Etihad Campus when he received the call from Lee Carsley informing him he would be returning to the England squad.
Quickly calling his parents, dad Kevin and mom Karen, to tell them the good news that afternoon, the first goal of the season had been ticked off.
Three days later, he made his first start since being sent off for the Euros in City’s 3-1 win over West Ham and produced arguably his best performance in months. The scintillating menace was back. That familiar flamboyance and love of the game was there.
Grealish knows that this upturn in form must continue. There is no doubt that this season is huge for him and he is fully aware of that. Guardiola, too, is demanding more.
Grealish cannot afford to have another season like last year, when three serious injuries and a dip in form made it easy for Southgate to leave him out of his 26-man squad. A decision Grealish admitted was “absolutely heartbreaking” and his most difficult moment in football.
The connection with Ireland
Nicknamed ‘The Brummie Boss’ by his family, he will be 29 when England play Finland at Wembley on Tuesday.
Carsley has already admitted that Grealish – another Peaky Blinders fan – has something to prove, and his belief in attacking football should suit both.
Saturday’s encounter with the Republic of Ireland presents an intriguing subplot for Grealish’s return. As a teenager, the Irish Football Association (FA) were keen to sign him to commit his long-term future to the country. Indeed, he was once voted Ireland’s Under-18 Player of the Year, and won the same award with the Under-21s 12 months later. A battle ensued between then-Ireland manager Martin O’Neill and the FA.
It was in fact Southgate, then in charge of the England Under-21 team, who played a key role in convincing Grealish to play for England. He met him at the Malmaison Hotel in Birmingham, assuring him that he could complete the under-21 pathway to the senior team. O’Neill had promised Grealish a regular place in the first team, but the decision had been made.
There was always a sense that Southgate never trusted the number 10 at international level, despite repeated denials, but it was he who proved so important to Grealish’s England journey.
This weekend, Grealish will be assured of a warm welcome at the Aviva Stadium, as he is set to come up against his best friend, Cardiff City’s Callum Robinson, who grew up with him in the Villa academy.
Strict Summer Training Program with “Jamie Velocity”
There is no doubt that Grealish will have a busy week as he looks to take advantage of Guardiola’s guidance. The manager’s response so far has been admirable.
Despite his reputation as a late-night operator, Grealish’s commitment to his craft has never been in doubt. At Aston Villa, he once said Telegraph Sport a story about how he would wake up at 5am most mornings to jog on the beaches of Santorini while on holiday with his long-term partner Sasha.
This summer, it was a similar story. He travelled to Portugal with elite coach Jamie Reynolds – better known as ‘Jamie Velocity’ – and underwent rigorous training sessions in the scorching heat. He made the most of every day of the summer, even managing to squeeze in some time off during the Wimbledon final in July.
During City’s pre-season tour of the United States, he was reminded of his lofty status and even he was surprised by the adulation he received from supporters.
There is a beautiful short video on social media of a girl in tears meeting him and, with a cracking voice, saying the words “I love you”. Grealish smiles and simply replies “yeah?” in that familiar Solihull accent.
Competition intensifies with the new English guard
Grealish is set to become a father soon, with Sasha announcing on social media in July that she was expecting their first child. The demands will inevitably change his life. Guardiola seems delighted with the news and believes it will bring a new level of maturity to his record signing.
Grealish simply wants the good times to continue. He is approaching an age where he will need to influence games at international level and in the Champions League for his club.
There is clearly huge competition for his position in England, with considerably younger players like Jude Bellingham, Cole Palmer and Morgan Gibbs-White.
But it feels like a new beginning, and he has to seize it. The comeback is always more memorable than the failure.
Perhaps these iconic low socks and tiny shin guards will be seen more regularly on our TV screens in the coming months.
