Despite arriving at Manchester City from Aston Villa for a fee of £105m or so, Jack Grealish isn’t an undisputed starter under Pep Guardiola.
A lot of expectations were placed on his shoulders following his move from Villa Park, and many expected him to hit the ground running rather quickly at his new club.
However, the winger took some time to adapt, revealing his struggles in the English media, which he has since recalled with L’Equipe, who ask him about his time at Aston Villa.
They tell him that he reminds them of David Ginola, who excelled when he had a roaming role on the pitch, which is something he was granted with the Villans, but less so in Manchester.
He said: “At Villa, I was meant to play on the left, but I was allowed to change positions if I felt it was necessary. With Pep, obviously, it’s different. He tells me to feel free, but in a structured setting, with a precise positioning on the pitch.
“With him, if you’re a left winger, well, you stay on the left, but you obviously don’t complain, because he’s the best manager.”
Regarding his adaptation, he does admit “I thought it would be simpler”, feeling that all that would change was the football, but there was a lot to take in when he left Aston Villa, with a new club, new teammates and a new manager who was asking different things of him.
As for whether he felt he struggled to make his mark in the Etihad dressing room, he said: “Yes, because at Villa, I was the captain and I had been there for seven years (in the first-team). I knew everyone in a club where a majority of English players were playing.
“At City, I arrived in a dressing room with a lot of different cultures and nationality, including the staff and physios. Therefore, I took some time to adapt to this new environment, that I really appreciate.”
