Paul Dickov says Pep Guardiola trusts Jack Grealish to perform in big games for Manchester City.
After losing two games on the bounce against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup and Wolves in the Premier League, the Citizens got back to winning ways by beating RB Leipzig 3-1 in their latest Champions League group game on Wednesday.
With a big showdown against Arsenal ahead of the treble winners on Sunday, one pundit and former City player has highlighted one current figure in Pep Guardiola’s squad that he feels has become an important presence for the club on the pitch.
Dickov highlights Grealish importance
Speaking on talkSPORT, Dickov said this about Grealish and his evolution in the team.
He said: “Last season after the World Cup since he came back I genuinely believed he was Manchester City’s best player.
“Pep has always played him in the big games away from home. [Jeremy] Doku came on and scored the other night there but I think Pep really trusts Jack now.
“Not just in an attacking sense but to keep the ball, get them up the pitch, but defensively he’s come on so much as well and that’s why in these big games, alongside the likes of Bernardo Silva, he’s one of the biggest picks.”
Having featured in 50 games for City last season in all competitions, scoring five goals and providing 11 assists in the process, this showcases how prominent the 27-year-old was for Guardiola in what turned out to be such a big season for the club in terms of the success they had.
With Grealish completing the full 90 minutes against the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Inter Milan in the Champions League last season, this backs up Dickov’s point about the City manager trusting the Englishman to perform in the big occasions.
Bearing in mind how the winger has yet to score a goal for his side this season, it’ll be interesting to see if the manager decides to keep him in the starting XI for Sunday’s big game against the Gunners.
