Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has apologised to Jack Grealish for his lack of playing time this season.
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Guardiola apologizes to GrealishWinger has fallen down the pecking orderSavinho and Doku above England playerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Grealish has played a total of 1108 minutes of football this season for City with an average of just over 50 minutes per game despite having made 22 appearances in all competitions. The England international has fallen down Guardiola's pecking order with Savinho and Jeremy Doku being preferred on the left wing. The Catalan tactician has now apologised to the 29-year-old for his lack of playing time.
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When questioned about Grealish, Guardiola told the media: "I'm so sorry he doesn't get the minutes that maybe he deserves. But [in] the end, the contributions from Jeremy or Savinho have been massive this season, this is the only reason why. It's not personal, or [that] I don't like Jack, or I don't have confidence in him.
"Of course when you play one player more minutes than another, you have more confidence [than him] right now. But I know his attributes, it's just for the fact that for the impact of Savinho. It's [Savinho's] first season; his impact in goals, and assists, the last game at Arsenal made an incredible step-up defensively and challenging duels. And this is the reason why."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
With a number of signings and players returning from injuries, Guardiola's selection headache has increased a lot. However, the former Barcelona manager has claimed that the onus lies on him to figure out who starts as he added: "The manager has to sometimes select one player in front of another, not just because you don't like the other one, but because a player can give you in a certain moment of a season, right now better. No more than that.
"And of course I make mistakes and maybe he should play in other games, or maybe players who play shouldn't, but it's my world, my life, and you have to accept it. My job is my job, and I have to do what I believe, and I try to be honest with myself."
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR GREALISH?
Despite his lack of minutes over the last couple of months, Grealish is likely to play a part in Guardiola's squad over the remainder of the season. However, his future beyond the summer may very well lie away from City.
