Jack Grealish has detailed the chat with Pep Guardiola in which the Manchester City boss insisted he deserved the goal and assist against Liverpool for his hard work throughout the season.
City produced a commanding performance to beat Jurgen Klopp's side 4-1 at the Etihad on Saturday, with Grealish starring on the left. The 27-year-old laid on Julian Alvarez with a perfectly weighted ball to cancel out Mohamed Salah's first-half opener, before a second-half blitz saw Liverpool blown away.
Kevin De Bruyne handed City the lead swiftly after the break, with Ilkay Gundogan adding a third before Grealish's cultured finish made it four - just rewards for a fine performance on the left. The former Aston Villa man came off to a raucous applause from the Etihad crowd and a warm embrace from his boss.
ALSO READ: Aymeric Laporte ‘offered’ to PSG and Tottenham
“He [Guardiola] was just very happy with me and for me," Grealish said. "He said I deserved this. I’ve been working hard and hopefully I can carry on.”
Grealish has enjoyed his best form since joining from Aston Villa during recent weeks, earning the trust of Guardiola on the left and producing goals and assists to match. After a tough first season of adapting to the Spaniard's demands, the England international has grown in confidence, particularly since returning from the World Cup.
“It's part of learning the way the manager wants to play and it does take time," he added. "I feel like I’ve got that now. There are times where the manager doesn’t want me to dribble all the time and [instead] keep the ball and play little short passes which I completely understand. When we play like we did today we are near enough unstoppable so fingers crossed it can continue.”
READ NEXT
