Pep Guardiola has confirmed that the future of Jack Grealish at Manchester City will be decided at the end of the season. The England international, who joined City for £100 million four years ago, has struggled for playing time this campaign after being a key figure during the club’s treble-winning season in 2023.
At 29 years old, Grealish has made only seven Premier League starts this season and did not feature off the bench in the recent FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace. This limited involvement has sparked speculation about a potential exit this summer. However, Guardiola clarified that no decisions have been made yet, and discussions regarding Grealish’s future will involve the outgoing director of football Txiki Begiristain, his successor Hugo Viana, and the player’s representatives.
Guardiola emphasized that he has not personally spoken with Grealish about his situation, explaining that these matters typically involve the club’s management and agents. He stated, “What is going to happen will happen, but he has to come back to start to play minutes again.”
The manager acknowledged that Grealish, who still has two years left on his contract, is understandably unhappy about his lack of game time. Guardiola noted that this feeling is common among players who do not play regularly, saying, “There is not one player in my locker room… that is happy when they do not play. When the team is winning and winning, they have to figure out how everything happens – but they are not happy. They are here to play and, when they don’t play, they are not satisfied. That is the normal position in all the clubs.”
Meanwhile, Guardiola also addressed the situation of Kevin De Bruyne, who is expected to make his final home appearance for City in their upcoming match against Bournemouth. De Bruyne, whose contract expires this summer, will be honored with a guard of honor from teammates and will deliver a farewell speech before being presented with gifts by the family of City legend Colin Bell.
Despite this being a sentimental occasion, Guardiola made it clear that De Bruyne’s starting place is not guaranteed, as the team still needs to secure Champions League qualification. Guardiola said he will prioritize selecting the best lineup to win the crucial game rather than being guided by sentiment. He explained, “What Kevin wants is that we win the game to qualify for the Champions League next season. That is what Kevin wants. It cannot be otherwise. I’m going to decide the best so that we can have the best chance to win the game against Bournemouth.”
Victory in this game, which City have in hand, would elevate them to third place in the Premier League ahead of their final match against Fulham. A defeat, however, would leave them sixth, resulting in a tight battle for top-five spots, with just one point separating third through seventh place. Since qualifying for the Champions League in the 2011-12 season, City have consistently competed in the tournament.
Guardiola stressed the importance of securing Champions League football next season. “We have been in for the last 14 or 15 years and it is where we want to be, but if we are not there it is because we don’t deserve it, and we will play the Europa League,” he said. “But I’m thinking we’re going to qualify. I control my mind and I think that. The first step is to finish in third position in the Premier League and that is the main target.”
Following the disappointment of the FA Cup final loss, Guardiola has focused his attention on preparing for the match against Bournemouth. He revealed he had not yet reviewed the game footage but planned to do so later, stating, “Last night and this morning I was focused on Bournemouth.”
Regarding the penalty situation in the FA Cup final, Guardiola insisted no designated penalty taker has been decided after Omar Marmoush missed a spot-kick following Erling Haaland’s unexpected decision not to take it. He said, “I didn’t talk with them. We train this afternoon. It’s so clear: the taker has to score a goal.”
As the season draws to a close, all eyes will be on Manchester City as they aim to secure a top-four finish and determine the futures of key players like Grealish and De Bruyne.
