Jack Grealish must take heed of manager Pep Guardiola's advice - even if he was actually talking about Kevin De Bruyne when he issued a demand for more.
The former Aston Villa skipper has been particularly underwhelming at times during his short Manchester City career, failing to deliver many performances so far that would justify his astronomical price tag.
The 26-year-old has scored just two Premier League goals all season, his last goal contribution coming during the 7-0 drubbing of Leeds United at home in mid-December.
His boss has issued a rally cry to teammate De Bruyne in a bid to get him "out of his comfort zone", but if Grealish is to kickstart his own City career he should really hang on every word.
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Speaking after City's crucial 1-0 home win over title rivals Chelsea last weekend, Guardiola went public with his message of motivation for match-winner De Bruyne.
"My job as a manager is to demand more. I want to put him out of his comfort zone and make him believe he can do better," he explained.
"I want more, because I know he can do it. I want Kevin to play better in some moments and some games and I have to demand it because I know he can do it."
The words ring eerily true for Grealish as well, the England international at times guilty of potentially playing the 'safer' option presented to him.
When chances have fallen his way, Grealish has hardly been particularly clinical - just see his spurned his one on one chance against the Blues last weekend while the scores were still level.
What made Grealish such a sight to behold at Villa Park was his willingness to at times seemingly take on any opponent in front of him, time and time again making the difference for what was then-Dean Smith's side.
Grealish has gone on the record many times to declare his admiration for teammate De Bruyne.
Upon penning a deal with the reigning champions, Grealish said: "I think everyone knows how much I admire Kevin (De Bruyne). It's going to be a dream come true to play alongside him."
Prior to his City move, Grealish admitted while still a Villa player that he held De Bruyne in such high regard.
"I'm half starstruck when I play against Kevin de Bruyne because he's my favourite player ever. I think he's unbelievable, I think he's easily the best player in the Premier League at the moment, Grealish told Villa TV in 2020.
"He's someone I personally look up to at the moment and try and, not base my game on him, but try and take stuff from his game and put that into mine."
Grealish must continue to try and learn from the star-studded, expensively-assembled cast around him because if their is room for improvement with star of the show De Bruyne, City's record-signing can certainly do better.
