Jack Grealish said in the build-up to Saturday’s Community Shield that a Manchester derby was a ‘great way’ to start the new season, and spoke of his ‘excitement’ at beginning the new term after a long summer for the Manchester City winger.
No doubt he hoped to start his fourth campaign in blue with a bang, marking a stark contrast from the end of the 2023/24 season which culminated with Grealish failing to play in the final four matches and watching from the bench as Pep Guardiola made three attacking substitutions to overturn City’s two-goal deficit in the FA Cup final.
Saturday could have kickstarted a new season, but, as has been the case too often in his City career, Grealish’s preferred narrative didn’t come to fruition as injury denied him a place in the matchday squad. Instead of starting at Wembley, the former Aston Villa captain posted a good luck message from home as he was forced to tune in on TV.
“The last two days he didn’t feel good, discomfort. The last two days we trained with the line-up, the starting XI, and he was training,” Guardiola explained post-match, when asked about Grealish’s absence.
“But the last two days, especially yesterday [Friday], his feeling wasn’t good. We talked with the doctors and it was not fine so don’t want to take a risk. I think it’s not a big issue but he could not be here.”
It’s a particularly frustrating and untimely injury for Grealish, who responded well to his England omission over the summer and enjoyed an encouraging pre-season. Everything was gearing up to Saturday’s big kick-off at Wembley, and City’s no.10 spoke about having a ‘head start’ on his team-mates who reported back late to the club following their international exploits this summer.
But with Jeremy Doku starting on Saturday and Savinho coming off the bench, has that advantage dissipated? Guardiola praised both players after City’s win on penalties over United, while Oscar Bobb was the most impressive of the lot, following on from his superb pre-season displays.
“It’s a blow because he played all pre-season, had the rhythm, was aggressive,” Guardiola said on Grealish’s start to the new term. “The third or fourth game was really, really good.
“Jeremy was on holidays and joined us for two or three days. Savinho as well. It is what it is. During the season it happens many times; discomforts, injuries. We didn’t want to take a risk and maybe against Chelsea he will be ready or pretty sure against Ipswich Town, he will be ready. Otherwise, if he’s injured now it could be three weeks or a month out.”
Grealish has earned praise from Guardiola on several occasions during the summer and it had seemed he was in line for a run to starts in August. That looks in doubt now and the injury offers others the chance to establish themselves at his expense.
Guardiola has proved he will not hand out minutes unless they’re fully deserved – as Grealish can attest to – and ahead of what feels like a make-or-break campaign, this is far from an ideal beginning.
That could all change at Stamford Bridge this weekend if Grealish recovers in time and starts, but failing that, City’s record signing will start this crucial season with a fresh challenge rather than the optimism he hoped for.
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