Ex-Man City midfielder De Jong: Important Grealish honest about struggles | OneFootball

Ex-Man City midfielder De Jong: Important Grealish honest about struggles | OneFootball

Icon: Tribal Football

Tribal Football

·2 December 2021

Ex-Man City midfielder De Jong: Important Grealish honest about struggles

Article image:Ex-Man City midfielder De Jong: Important Grealish honest about struggles

Former Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong believes Jack Grealish is struggling to adjust to manager Pep Guardiola's system.

Grealish has just two goals in all competitions since his £100m move from Aston Villa in the summer, and recently gave a tell-all interview about his transfer from Villa to City, admitting he's found it difficult to adjust at times.


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De Jong said, "It does [take time] I think it's great to hear honesty because honesty is key especially if you want to develop yourself.

"We all know it's hard to integrate in Pep Guardiola's system when you come from a club like Villa to a club like City because the expectation is so high.

"I think the main thing a lot of the time, he comes in a two-v-one position but that's because the game starts for him in the final third because the majority of the possession is already with City.

"At Villa he could take the ball from his own half and create going forward so he could get space and create actions. Now, he has to create the action when he gets the ball in the final third, he's got to find himself in situations where he can come at the defender at pace. He's got to elevate his level."

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