“There were two secrets… number one, Riyad, taking him off the pitch, as soon as possible. He played like Almiron yesterday…”
That was Jack Grealish's controversial verdict when he was asked for the secrets behind Manchester City's latest title triumph back in May. A dramatic 3-2 win over Aston Villa on the final day of the season was enough to seal City's fourth Premier League crown in five years; but for Grealish, who joined the champions in a British record £100million deal the previous summer and was experiencing a title win for the first time, it was extra special.
He did, in some ways, endear himself with his wild celebrations after the match, but his classless comment comparing Riyad Mahrez to Newcastle's Miguel Almiron left a bad taste. Perhaps fittingly, it is a jibe has not aged particularly well for the Manchester City man over the past six months.
