Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, has acknowledged that Jack Grealish needs to improve if he hopes to return to the starting lineup.
Grealish, who cost £100 million to sign in 2021, failed to score a goal for the team in 2024 and was recently benched by summer arrival Savinho, who was the star of Guardiola's team's 4-1 victory over West Ham United over the weekend.
When asked why Savinho was playing before Grealish, Guardiola gave the Englishman a firm warning without holding back.
"It's simple," Guardiola remarked. "He will observe the competition and realize that he must compete, himself, as much as he looks at himself. I played Savinho because he was in better shape and had better everything than Jack.
The Jack who won the Treble is the one I want. Yes, I do want it. But I make an effort to be truthful with myself about that.
I battled hard for [Grealish], for him to be here, for him to keep doing it, and I know he can do it because I did see him. I have witnessed his level, and I desire it in every practice and match. Otherwise, Savinho is available.
Does anyone here believe that Savinho isn't worthy of playing at this moment? No, he is worthy of playing. He produces, which is why I play him. He played for that reason. They wouldn't be here if I had any doubts about Jack's or any of these players' abilities.
However, they must be at their peak right now, at 3 p.m. today. It's about 3pm, not about what they have done or plan to do. The players, not me, are in charge of the one hour and thirty minutes or one hour and forty-five minutes that we will play, and they must perform well in each and every game."