Pep Guardiola sends strong warning to Jack Grealish over Savinho heroics | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted Jack Grealish must raise his game if he wants to reclaim his place in the team's starting lineup.

Grealish, a £100m signing in 2021, failed to score a single club goal in 2024 and has recently lost his place in the City squad to summer arrival Savinho, who stole the show as Guardiola's side thumped West Ham United 4-1 at the weekend.

Quizzed on why Savinho was playing ahead of Grealish, Guardiola pulled no punches with a strong warning to the Englishman.

"It's easy," Guardiola said. "As much as he looks at himself, he will see the competition and that he has to compete, himself. Savinho is in better shape and everything than Jack and that's why I played Savinho.

"I want the Jack that won the Treble? Yeah, I want it. But I try to be honest with myself for that.

"You can say it's unfair. If you think that, then it's fine. But you have to prove and say, 'Okay, I'm going to fight with Savinho, to deserve to play in that position every single day, every single week and every single month'.

Grealish has lost his place in the City starting lineup / Gareth Copley/GettyImages

"I fought a lot for [Grealish], I fought a lot for him to be here, to do it again and do it again, and I know that he can do it, because I saw him. I've seen his level and I want that every single training session and every single game. If not, there's Savinho.

"Is there anyone in this room who thinks Savinho doesn't deserve to play right now? No, he deserves to play. That's why I play him - because he produces. So that's why he played. I don't have any doubt about the quality of Jack or any of these players, otherwise they wouldn't be here.

"But they have to, right now, today at 3pm, be at your best. It's not about what they have done or will do, it's about 3pm. The one hour and 30 minutes, or one hour and 45 minutes that we're going to play, the responsibility belongs to the players, not to me, and they have to deliver, every single game."