There were high expectations and pressure on Grealish after joining City from boys’ club Aston Villa in a £ 100million move.
The fact that he also inherited the No. 10 jersey from all-time record scorer Sergio Aguero only increased the buzz.
The English national team player ended the season with three goals and three assists in the league, and the general consensus is that he was overwhelming.
But a fan on Twitter has posted a video proving that the statistics do not exactly tell the story of Grealish’s first season at the Etihad.
The clip is 48 seconds in which Grealish was “robbed of assists” in City. The 26-year-old was clearly not pale for creativity in sky blue, putting on key passes and crosses for teammates who could not convert.
Pep Guardiola has publicly praised Grealish for his performances, but he opted out of bringing him in as a replacement against Villa on the final day when City were to turn the match around.
Instead, he selected Ilkay Gundogan, who came off the bench to score a ball that secured the title in dramatic fashion.
“In my head I think I can not lose this ball” 🤔
Jack Grealish says at times this season that he has played it safe … pic.twitter.com/IAiTP9Io9f
– Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 22, 2022
“You know, even at times when people have said to me, ‘I want Jack to attack more, like in Villa,'” Grealish said on the pitch to Roy Keane, Jamie Redknapp and Micah Richards.
“And I sometimes feel that because Pep does not want you to drop the ball, I’m so inside my head thinking ‘I can not lose this ball’, you know what I mean.
“Where I feel like, ‘Okay, I have to get out again.'”
There was a glimpse of Grealish’s brilliance and he felt at his most confident in the penultimate game of the season against West Ham, where he got City back in the game.
He continued: “For example, in the second half of last week, against West Ham, I felt like once I scored, I was like ‘Come on, give me the ball’, and I ran on people and tried to create things.
“I even talked to people I’m close to after the match, my dad, I said, ‘I felt like myself back then, and played today.’
“Hopefully I can bring it next season. I’m sure I will.”
Striking players have typically taken a season in bed at City at Guardiola before stepping up another gear in their second campaign and it is hoped Grealish will continue the trend.
