Manchester City’s Jack Grealish recently shared his emotions after a challenging summer, marked by his exclusion from the England squad for the European Championships in Germany. The 28-year-old forward, who has been a key player for Manchester City, expressed deep disappointment at being left out of Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad.
A Summer of Disappointment
Grealish was initially part of a provisional 33-man squad, but was left out of the final selection, missing the chance to compete in a major tournament. The exclusion was particularly painful given England’s recent success, reaching the final of the European Championship two years ago. Grealish, who has 36 caps for England, watched from afar as the Three Lions suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Spain in Berlin.
The omission was unexpected, as Grealish wasn’t alone; other notable absentees included Marcus Rashford, James Maddison, and Harry Maguire. Grealish’s season leading up to the tournament was lackluster, making just 26 starts and scoring only three goals – his lowest tally since joining Manchester City from Aston Villa in 2021 for a record £100 million.
A Struggle on the Field
The 2023/24 campaign was a tough one for Grealish. His last appearance for City came in a 5-1 victory over Wolves in early May. The lack of playing time and form likely influenced Southgate’s decision to omit him from the squad, a move that left Grealish reeling.
In a candid interview ahead of Manchester City’s pre-season friendly against Barcelona in Orlando, Florida, Grealish opened up about the emotional toll of missing out. “It was probably – football wise – the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to deal with,” he admitted. “I was absolutely heartbroken.”
The constant reminders of the tournament, whether through media or social platforms, made the experience even more challenging for Grealish. “Every time you turn on the phone or turn on the TV, you just see it,” he said, highlighting the difficulty of escaping the coverage.
Looking Forward
Despite the disappointment, Grealish is using the setback as fuel for the upcoming season. Reflecting on his time at Manchester City, he emphasized the importance of bouncing back: “I don’t think I performed as well as I could have, and then in the second season, I played in a lot of the games. That was down to the first season that I had, and I wanted to come back stronger, and I certainly did that.”
Grealish is currently with Manchester City’s pre-season squad in the United States, preparing for the new season with friendlies against top clubs like Celtic, AC Milan, Barcelona, and Chelsea. The team has had a mixed start, suffering defeats to Celtic and AC Milan, but Grealish remains focused on regaining his best form.
For Jack Grealish, this summer was a difficult chapter in his career, marked by exclusion and introspection. However, his resolve to return stronger is clear. As Manchester City prepares for the new season, fans and pundits alike will be watching to see how Grealish channels this adversity into his performances on the pitch. His journey serves as a reminder that setbacks, no matter how painful, can be powerful motivators for growth and improvement.