Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke about Jack Grealish and the new signings at the club ahead of Nottingham Forest
Pep Guardiola insisted he will judge Jack Grealish on the training pitch - but competition at Manchester City has increased. Grealish was pictured on a night out for the second time in a few weeks after Saturday's FA Cup win over Plymouth.
The 2021 signing is battling to change opinions of him in his fourth season at the Etihad, with no Premier League appearances since a defeat away to Aston Villa in December.
Guardiola has previously spoken of how much his players must be committed to their football, but has no issues with them enjoying themselves on their days off as long as it does not impact their football. Grealish impressed in the reverse fixture against Nottingham Forest back in December, but has to have used the last week to put his case again for selection.
"That was a long time ago. I wanted Jack at his best, of course, but he had setbacks and didn’t play but that was sometimes for the injuries, he could not get the rhythm that you need for being ready every three days," said Guardiola.
"He’s ready. He had seven days, and everybody is fit. A day off is a day off, there is no training.
"They have private lives to do whatever they want. I’m not going to control what they do in their private life. I judge what I see on the pitch, the training sessions and the performances in the game. That’s where I judge the players."
As Grealish looks to get his season going, he has more competition for a place in the form of Omar Marmoush, the £59m arrival in the January transfer window who has started the last five Premier League games. Guardiola has been impressed by the performances of all four new faces, who have helped to give impetus to a campaign that was badly struggling.
"New players always give you a boost. You cannot disappoint them," he said. "They have an opinion of you from external and you want to be serious and professional and try to help them.
"It's a question of time. I would like to have the old players for all time but it's not possible and it's not just the players - the managers, the staff - people change, it's normal.
"The new players always bring something. They want to play here, they are incredibly focused on every training. you realise. When you arrive in one place and everything is new, you are incredibly focused.
"You have a dream to make a good impact, not just in the team but in English football. We have seen it.
"The minutes they play, they handled it really well. but of course there are still things that need time to improve and realise."