Jack Grealish answers Pep Guardiola call as Man City star posts training video during England draw

Maybe Jack Grealish had the right idea. As thousands of football fans across the country switched on to watch England’s drab 0-0 draw against Slovenia on Tuesday night, the Manchester City star took advantage of the sparsely populated outdoors.

Admittedly, Grealish ventured to an area of Manchester where few are granted access - City’s CFA training ground - but the timing felt apt. The 28-year-old isn’t one to reflect on past disappointments and, clearly, has already set his sights on an improved 2024/25 season.

The previous campaign certainly didn’t live up to expectations and a mixture of injury, poor form and a lack of game time meant Gareth Southgate felt he wasn’t worthy of a spot in his 26-man squad that travelled to Germany.

Secretly, a part of Pep Guardiola may be relieved that a player who admitted he found long spells of last season tough can enjoy some downtime and the opportunity to return rejuvenated next month. The City boss didn’t hide his frustration at Grealish and on several occasions last season indicated that the former Aston Villa man needed to improve.

In November, Guardiola said he wanted Grealish to be ‘angry’ after Jeremy Doku was twice selected ahead of him. Three months later the City boss admitted the club’s record signing had to ‘demand more’ from himself, while claiming his levels had dropped from the treble campaign. After a 0-0 draw against Arsenal in March, Guardiola made a beeline for Grealish at full-time before publicly admonishing him on the pitch in front of the watching world.

Even in his final press conference of the campaign there was a subtle message for Grealish after the manager claimed City’s no.10 had ‘struggled’ during the season, but backed him to recapture his form next term.

If Grealish feels he needs to show an extra level of desire or motivation, Monday’s video, which he posted on Instagram in the first half of the England game, was the perfect response. The Birmingham-born star posted a selfie of himself and personal trainer Jamie Reynolds at City’s training base, at least three weeks before the squad will reconvene, while Grealish has also uploaded sweaty-faced photos after runs during a holiday in Italy.

It’s commonplace for Premier League footballers to maintain fitness levels in the off-season, but Grealish’s repeated posts are evidently trying to convey that his appetite to bounce back next season could not be greater. After such an underwhelming 12 months that’s encouraging, especially given the competition for places at City in the wide areas.

The heightened fitness levels - which will only be further boosted in pre-season - should provide Grealish with a real advantage moving into the new campaign, particularly with the majority of the squad set to report back late after this summer’s international competitions.

It feels like this could be a make-or-break year for Grealish at the Etihad and a fast start when the action recommences in five weeks’ time would help alleviate any concerns from supporters, or whispers of a possible departure in the offing. For now, he’s giving himself the best opportunity to make that aim a reality.