Jack Grealish has become a “really important player” for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, but former Arsenal and Leicester striker Alan Smith believes he can still improve in front of goal
Manchester City star Jack Grealish has been told he needs to start scoring more goals, having found the back of the net just 11 times in 89 games under Pep Guardiola.
Grealish made a record-breaking £100m switch to City in 2021 and former Arsenal and Leicester striker Alan Smith has been impressed by the way he has adapted to Guardiola’s demands, with the 27-year-old playing a key role in the Treble triumph.
However, Smith believes he needs to improve in front of goal next season given the chances City create, insisting players can score “20 goals just by arriving at the far post and tapping them in”.
“It was great to see Grealish play such a pivotal role for Manchester City last season,” Smith told Gambling Zone. “A lot of players struggle to adjust to Guardiola’s demands, and he’s a very different player to the one he was at Villa.
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“He doesn’t hold on to the ball anywhere near as much now, but it was brilliant to see him become a really important player for Pep. To do that in this City team takes some doing and he was there week in, week out.
“If you were to be picky, you could look at his goals and say that is an area where he can improve. City create so many chances, so it’s possible for Jack to improve that part of his game.
“I can remember that one season where Sterling got about 20 goals just by arriving at the far post and tapping them in. It is possible (for Grealish to add more goals to his game). I certainly believe that Grealish can do that as well as score more spectacular efforts.
“I don’t know whether he’d have a target, but he’ll be looking at improving his goals and assists because the best players are always looking to raise their game season after season.”
“I come into [England] camp on Tuesday night, I was a bit hungover but I wasn’t drunk or anything,” he said. “I came into camp with the other guys, we slept then woke up and trained Wednesday.
“We trained Thursday and, like I said, in the back of my mind, I knew I wasn’t going to play on the Friday. Then the Saturday, I trained and trained well. It had been the best weekend of my life.
“From winning the Champions League which is something that I moved to Manchester City to do. I just enjoy myself, I’m living my dream of playing for the best club in the world in my opinion and we’ve just won that one: the Treble.”