Pep Guardiola is about to see if his risk on £300k-a-week Man City man has paid off

Redaction Simon Brett with Dan Murphy
Published on 2024-02-13 13:00:00

Pep Guardiola is known for not holding back his opinions, and while that can be a strong quality, it can also backfire. Man management is a slippery slope, and one wrong move can ruin a player’s career. Such was the case with Troy Deeney at Forest Green Rovers, whose criticism of the squad led to the manager losing his job.

Despite Guardiola’s numerous successes, including three Champions Leagues and multiple league titles, he is not immune to making mistakes. When he publicly called out Kalvin Phillips for returning to training overweight, Phillips admitted that it was a big blow to his confidence. This criticism, instead of motivating him, ultimately led to his downfall at the club.

While Guardiola had praised Phillips in other instances, it was the negative comment that overshadowed everything else. This shows how delicate a line managers must tread when offering criticism. Guardiola recently made a similarly pointed comment towards player Jack Grealish, taking a risk in doing so.

Grealish now has two choices: he can let the criticism affect him negatively, or he can prove his manager wrong with an improved performance. Despite being an integral part of City’s previous successes, Grealish has struggled to secure a spot in the starting lineup. Guardiola addressed this by stating that Grealish must demand more of himself and get back to his previous level.

Although Guardiola has expressed his anticipation in giving Grealish more playing time, it is now up to Grealish to prove himself. His first chance to do so may come in the Champions League match against FC Copenhagen. This opportunity will be crucial for Grealish to showcase his capabilities and secure a more prominent spot in the squad.

Ultimately, Guardiola has taken a risk with his outspoken criticism of Grealish. Whether that risk will pay off or backfire remains to be seen. Nonetheless, Guardiola’s handling of the situation will be closely watched by fans and critics alike.

Read Original article on Manchester City News