Manchester City are back in Champions League action against Feyenoord tomorrow night – and the game is an opportunity for Pep Guardiola to try something he’s never done before.
Manchester City are in real trouble right now, and have lost the last five games.
On Saturday, City lost 4-0 at home to Tottenham Hotspur and the same problems were on show once again.
City were too easy to play against, with the midfield all at sea. The likes of Rico Lewis, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva all struggled, and there was just so much space for Spurs.
It’s crying out some legs and athleticism – which is why Pep Guardiola must now consider getting Jack Grealish into a midfield role.
Jack Grealish’s energy could help the Man City midfield
Micah Richards recently suggested Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovacic were getting caught out of position in midfield.
And City fans have been really concerned about Ilkay Gundogan, whose performances have not been good since he returned to the club.
The loss of Rodri is proving to be huge, and teams are slicing through City like a knife through butter – and it’s clear that this is the biggest issue of many right now.
City have Feyenoord next in the Champions League, and while City do obviously need to win, it’s a chance for the manager to perhaps take a look at Jack Grealish in a midfield role.
The £100m star has played almost exclusively as a left winger since he signed a few years ago from Aston Villa – but it may now be time for him to shift inside.
Grealish is energetic and athletic, and actually has good defensive discipline.
When he signed for City, the plan was initially to use him regularly as a number eight (via The Athletic). In the end, that plan did not materialise – but now might be the time to try him in a number eight role.
Grealish has much better mobility than the likes of Bernardo Silva and Gundogan, and it’s something that could really help City at this time of great need.
Grealish position change could help save his Man City career
Not only could moving Grealish inside help City, it could also really benefit him as well.
Grealish is now into his fourth season a the Etihad Stadium and simply put, his goal contribution numbers are not good enough for the money that was paid.
He’s never really been a player who’s been about goals and assists, but it was reasonable to expect a bigger output than what he’s produced.
Pundit Pat Nevin recently claimed Grealish’s numbers were ‘way off’ for City. Quite possibly, Grealish could actually be more effective playing as a left-sided number eight, as there’d be more room for him to work with, and scope for him to be more unpredictable. On the left wing, it’s usually the same kind of move for him, which is to check back.
That greater freedom inside could really help him thrive and be more creative, while also giving City more athleticism in central areas, and someone more likely to get back and stop counter-attacks.
With City lacking other options, this simply has to be worth a try for Guardiola.
