Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has insisted that he will only judge former Aston Villa star Jack Grealish for his performances on the pitch.
The 29-year-old was pictured on a night out after City’s FA Cup win over Plymouth last weekend. It comes amid a tricky time for him at Guardiola’s side, with Grealish scoring just twice in 26 appearances across all competitions this season.
Villa’s academy graduate has been linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium this summer, with City likely to rebuild their underperforming squad this term and a return to Villa Park has even been tipped. The reigning Premier League champions sit fourth going into this weekend’s fixtures, 20 points behind league leaders Liverpool.
But Guardiola has refused to be drawn on questions over Grealish’s future beyond this season while insisting that he won’t judge what the forward gets up to on his days off.
“They know what they have to do,” he said. “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.
“I want Jack at his best, of course, but he’s had setbacks and didn’t play. That was sometimes for the injuries, he could not get the rhythm that you need for being ready every three days.
“Jack played really good the last game and hopefully he can have the consistency. It’s so good to have a dream to play in the World Cup and the European Cup with his national team. I would be concerned if it was otherwise.”
Guardiola was then asked about what the future may hold for Grealish, of Solihull, and stressed that a decision will be made at the end of the current campaign.
“What happens in terms of Jack, in terms of everyone, they will be treated at the end of the season. Now we are playing for many important things for the club. He is a player for Man City, there is no doubt about that. What will happen? I don’t know what is going to happen.”
As for a Villa return, Grealish himself has already made his stance clear on coming back to the club he captained to promotion in 2019.
“It’s a club that is so close to my heart and I definitely hope to go back there,” he said. “That’s always been in my mind. Ashley Young has done it and I want to do the same, 100 per cent.”