During Manchester City’s seven-game winless run, it appeared that Pep Guardiola was running short of options in midfield. Injuries to Rodri and Mateo Kovacic have severely depleted Pep Guardiola’s midfield options. Manchester City have looked in desperate need of another midfielder. They appear destined to sign one in January. But last night the performance of Jack Grealish during City’s 3-nil win over Nottingham Forest in midfield was full of promise. It was another standout feature for City’s important win at the Etihad Stadium last night.
Jack Grealish lined up in Manchester City’s midfield last night. He played with Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne in a midfield three. The England international added a different dimension to City’s midfield. You could go as far as to say he added exactly what City’s midfield has lacked in recent matches. He added control and poise to City’s play. Grealish also did the dirty work for his team when it was required. He looked right at home in City’s engine room in a well-rounded performance. The heat map from his performance last night further illustrates this point.
All action Jack! 💨 pic.twitter.com/KmGekHrLMc
— Manchester City (@ManCity) December 4, 2024
For me, Manchester City always look like a better team when Grealish is in the lineup and playing well. His game complements that of his teammates. The England international doesn’t provide the highlights or create the headlines like some of his teammates when they’re in full flight. But he has always played a vital role for Pep Guardiola’s side. He did that last night in his new midfield role. His performance against Nottingham Forest as a midfielder was full of promise, and it could kick-start the season of Jack Grealish.
Pep Guardiola and Kevin De Bruyne were full of praise for Jack Grealish’s display in midfield.
The performance of Jack Grealish was one of several positives for Manchester City to take out of last night’s match. There is a role in City’s midfield for Grealish if he can seize it. He did exactly that last night.
Speaking after his team’s win Kevin De Bruyne was full of praise for the performance of Jack Grealish. He believed the control Grealish provided to the game last night proved to be crucial to City’s win. De Bruyne has this to say about Grealish’s display: “*Jack is so good at controlling the tempo of the game, at holding the ball. You can’t really get it off him, and then sliding through plays. That’s his quality. Maybe with the type of guys we have on the flanks, he’s very good at that. I think we needed a bit more control, and he was able to do that with Bernardo, Gundo and myself in the middle, and Jeremy, who is a different player and very electric. I think we performed well as a team but I think Jack did exceptional.*”
Pep Guardiola echoed the sentiments of Kevin De Bruyne when he asked about the performance of Jack Grealish. Guardiola told the media: “Really good. He played in the middle and was involved in many things. Hopefully in the next games, if I decide to play him in that position, he can be involved in the final third and decisive in goals and assists. Our football is always built from the midfield. The quality and they make our tempo and the way we have to play. We control the game, and Jack gave us that pace. When to accelerate and control, he did it really good. I’m so happy for him.”
Last night’s display from Jack Grealish in midfield was full of promise. He looked right at home in City’s engine room. Throughout City’s injury crisis Pep Guardiola has needed to find new solutions to his team’s issues. He looks to have found own by playing Jack Grealish in midfield. If his display against Nottingham Forest is the sign of things to come from Jack Grealish as a midfielder then Manchester City may have found the perfect player to add a new dimension to their play.