Roy Keane has told Jack Grealish to ‘grow up and earn Pep Guardiola‘s trust’ amid his patchy first season at the club.
The pundit was speaking about Grealish before City’s FA Cup win over Peterborough, in which Grealish starred and scored an excellent goal.
Keane has not been convinced by the £100million man at City and touched on Grealish’s off-the-pitch issues.
Jack Grealish scored and played well in Manchester City’s win over Peterborough
Roy Keane, before the game, said Jack Grealish needs to grow up and earn his manager’s trust
He was dropped for a game with Phil Foden after the pair turned up for a recovery session ‘not in the right condition’ and a video emerged of him allegedly being turned away from a bar in Manchester last month, although Pep Guardiola said the footage was misleading.
Keane said on ITV: ‘I think it’s crunch time for Man City over the next few months, this is where you will really test as a player, crunch games.
‘Jack’s had a few injury problems, probably been criticised a little bit for his off-field stuff but I think what Jack has to do is grow up and get the trust of Pep.
‘He probably hasn’t got that yet, same with England, I don’t think Gareth [Southgate] trusts him that much yet.
Grealish latched onto Phil Foden’s through ball to score a lovely goal and put the tie to bed
‘Whatever Jack’s doing off the field, it does take its toll when you’re an attacking player, it’s another opportunity for Jack. I do think it’s about time he grew up.’
Grealish brought down a through ball from Foden with an incredible touch before finishing with ease against the Championship strugglers on Tuesday night.
Riyad Mahrez scored the only other goal of the game when he broke the deadlock an hour in and City march on to the next stage.
Grealish has just two goals and two assists in 17 Premier League appearances for City this term and he’s scored only once in the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola is looking for more output from the man the club signed for £100million
