Jack Grealish frustrations with Pep Guardiola revealed by Thomas Tuchel | OneFootball

England manager Thomas Tuchel revealed that Jack Grealish has grown frustrated with the inconsistent opportunities Pep Guardiola has afforded him at Manchester City this season after a talk with the forward.

Grealish has battled with injuries once again this campaign but even when he has been available, Guardiola has rarely been convinced to consistently deploy him. The possession-based winger has started consecutive City matches just once since September - and the second of those back-to-back outings ended with Grealish limping off injured against Real Madrid.

Tuchel left the 29-year-old out of his first England squad, but was keen to stress that this decision was simply a question of match rhythm. "I love Jack," the German boss gushed. "I love everything about him. I love his personality, I love his quality. The guy has courage, he can take the heat, he's not afraid of the Bernabeu whistles when he's on the ball, it does not affect him and if it affects him only in the best way.

"So is he a player that should be available and can have an impact in our squad? Yes, 100%. But lately, he simply has no rhythm."

Jack Grealish has been in fine form for England this season / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages

The England boss went on to detail a conversation with Grealish in which the City forward explained his frustrations: "Listen Thomas," Tuchel recalled Grealish saying, "I'm not a start-stop player. It is so hard for me to influence a match from the bench and then be on the bench again, and then two weeks later I start again."

To avoid inciting the ire of Guardiola, Tuchel added: "I'm not judging anyone, not at all, but it's just a characteristic of Jack, he gets better with every minute. The more he plays, the better he gets and then he becomes a proper machine. In his position, Anthony Gordon is just more rhythm, more minutes, more intensity and Marcus [Rashford] we discussed. So these were the two picks ahead of him."

Guardiola has been blunt when discussing Grealish's limited minutes. Earlier this year, the Catalan coach shrugged: "Savinho is in better shape and everything than Jack."

Yet, Guardiola hasn't given up hope on his mercurial forward. When asked about Grealish's England omission this week, the City boss insisted: "I want the best for him, I want his best on and off the pitch. I cannot judge the England national manager."