Gareth Southgate's comments about Jack Grealish needing to improve are nothing new, for the player himself or for anyone wanting to shine at the top level. Pep Guardiola has not and will not allow anybody in his squad to think that they do not need to get any better, because otherwise they would not have had the individual and collective drive to win back-to-back Premier League titles not once but twice.
Whatever was said after the Germany game, Grealish knows that he is at the best club to push for an England start at the World Cup. As Southgate noted earlier this month, it was only last summer at the Euros when it was deemed an outrage that he was being left out of the side and now people question when he does start.
As every player seeks to get regular game time before the Qatar tournament this winter, Guardiola may have to consider the idea that some players consider a short-term loan if they fear they will not get the minutes at the Etihad they need to head into the World Cup in the best possible condition. The player and position where that looks most obvious at the minute is goalkeeper Zack Steffen.
