Jack Grealish on his 'heartbroken' summer following England's rejection for Euro 2024.

Manchester City's Jack Grealish has spoken out about his 'heartbroken' summer following his omission from the England squad for the European Championships in Germany.

The 28-year-old was unexpectedly left out of Gareth Southgate's 26-man team for the European Championship this summer, despite being included to an initial 33-man provisional training group.

Grealish, who has previously made 36 appearances for England, missed out on a second consecutive European Championship final after the Three Lions lost 2-1 to Spain in Berlin earlier this month. The Birmingham-born talent was one of several surprising absences from England's tournament team, including Marcus Rashford, James Maddison, and Harry Maguire, who were all left out by previous boss Southgate. Grealish has struggled throughout the 2023/24 season leading up to the competition, failing to appear for Pep Guardiola's side since a 5-1 victory against Wolves at the Etihad Stadium in early May.

Grealish made just 26 starts for Manchester City last season, netting three goals - his lowest score since joining the club from Aston Villa for £100 million in 2021. Speaking to reporters on Monday night before of Manchester City's penultimate pre-season friendly against Barcelona in Orlando, Florida, Jack Grealish was questioned about his absence from Southgate's England team over the summer. "I'll be honest, it was probably - football wise - the most difficult thing I've ever had to deal with, in terms of my own career," Grealish told the media.

"I was completely heartbroken." And then, obviously, when you're on vacation, wherever I was, every time you turn on the phone, TV, or anything, you just see it." He went on to say, "It was difficult not to notice. But for now, I'm moving forward. I simply have to use that as fuel for this season, and try to maintain the same mentality I had two years ago, during my first season at City.

"I don't think I performed as well as I could of, and then in the second season, I played in a lot of the games, and that was down to the first season that I had and I wanted to come back stronger and I certainly did that, and hopefully I can do that again now." Grealish is a member of Guardiola's pre-season touring squad in the United States this summer, with Manchester City having a few first-team players available for the four-game tour, which includes games against Celtic, AC Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea. The Sky Blues have two remaining matches after losing to Celtic and AC Milan in their first two pre-season friendly.

Comments

Can PSG Achieve a Historic UCL Hat-Trick with Their New Star-Studded Attack?

Paris Saint-Germain have entered a new phase of European dominance after winning the Champions League in consecutive seasons, and their latest attacking additions suggest that the club are not satisfied with stopping at two. The arrivals of Maghnes Akliouche from Monaco, Ferran Torres from Barcelona and Mika Godts from Ajax have added more depth, creativity and tactical variety to an attack that already includes Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The question is no longer whether PSG have enough talent to win the Champions League. It is whether they can maintain the focus, balance and hunger required to win it three times in a row. A historic hat-trick would be one of the rarest achievements in modern European football. Winning one Champions League title demands quality, resilience and good fortune. Winning two consecutively proves that the club has developed a genuine competitive structure. Winning three would require PSG to survive every type of challenge: injuri...

Why Borussia Dortmund Targeted Giannis Konstantelias for Their Midfield Rebuild.

Borussia Dortmund’s signing of Giannis Konstantelias is a clear example of the club returning to one of its most successful recruitment principles: identify a technically gifted player before the wider European market fully understands his value, then place him in an environment where he can develop into a major star. The 23-year-old Greek has joined from PAOK on a long-term contract running until 2031, with the transfer package reported at around €26 million plus bonuses that could take the total beyond €30 million. Although Konstantelias is often described as an attacking midfielder or winger, his arrival is connected to Dortmund’s broader midfield rebuild. The club are not signing him only to add another forward. They are trying to restore creativity, unpredictability and technical quality after changes in the attacking group, including Karim Adeyemi’s move to Barcelona. Konstantelias gives Dortmund a player who can operate between midfield and attack, connect possession and create ...

How Ezri Konsa's Arrival at Arsenal Addresses the Saliba Injury Emergency.

Ezri Konsa’s move from Aston Villa to Arsenal is a response to an urgent defensive problem, but it is also a statement about the club’s ambition. Arsenal have reportedly agreed a deal worth around €59.6 million plus add-ons for the 28-year-old England international, who is expected to sign after William Saliba suffered a serious back injury during France’s World Cup campaign. The transfer gives Mikel Arteta an experienced Premier League centre-back at precisely the moment when the club’s defensive depth has been severely tested. Saliba’s injury does not require surgery, but Arsenal confirmed that he will undergo a managed rehabilitation programme and miss an extended period. Other reports suggested he could be unavailable for four to five months, creating a major issue at the beginning of Arsenal’s title defence. Konsa’s arrival does not replace Saliba permanently, but it prevents the injury from weakening Arsenal’s entire campaign. The signing is important because Arsenal are not simp...

Aston Villa Secures £29.9 Million Deal for Japanese Goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.

Aston Villa’s agreement to sign Zion Suzuki from Parma is one of the most intriguing goalkeeper transfers of the summer. The deal is reported to be worth an initial €30 million, with bonuses capable of taking the total to around €35 million, or approximately £29.9 million, while the 23-year-old Japan international is expected to sign a five-year contract running until 2031. More than a recruitment move, it appears to be a carefully timed succession plan for Emiliano Martínez, whose future has been linked with Juventus. The transfer is significant because Villa are not simply buying a reserve goalkeeper or a player for gradual development. Suzuki is arriving with the expectation that he can become the club’s next first-choice goalkeeper. That is a demanding role, especially after the influence Martínez has had at Villa Park. The Argentine has become one of the most recognizable goalkeepers in world football, and replacing him will require more than reflexes and shot-stopping ability. Su...

Can Enzo Maresca's New Manchester City Compete with Arsenal's Premier League Champions?

Manchester City’s first season after Pep Guardiola begins with an immediate test of credibility. Enzo Maresca has taken charge on a three-year contract after Guardiola’s departure, and his first competitive match comes against Arsenal, the reigning Premier League champions, in the Community Shield. That timing could hardly be more dramatic. Before Maresca has had the chance to establish his full identity, City must face the team that currently holds the league title. The question is not whether Manchester City still have enough talent to compete. They do. The larger issue is whether Maresca can transform a squad built over a decade of Guardiola influence into a team capable of matching Arsenal’s consistency, physicality and tactical confidence. City’s challenge is not a normal managerial transition. It is the beginning of a new era after one of the most successful periods in modern football. Arsenal enter the season with the authority of champions. City enter it with a mixture of exper...

Dribble Diaries

Search This Blog