- Jack Grealish was left out of England’s squad for Euro 2024 earlier this summer
- He was ‘absolutely heartbroken’ but is hoping to make the most of the situation
- After missing out, Grealish returned for pre-season earlier than other players
Jack Grealish wants to use the pain of his England snub as fuel and prove doubters wrong this season.
The winger played a bit-part role in the latter stages of the 2023-24 campaign as Manchester City lifted a fourth consecutive Premier League title and was overlooked for the European Championship by Gareth Southgate.
Grealish maintained that he would have offered England something different but admitted that issues with fitness throughout last year hampered his chances.
The 28-year-old has spent the off-season training and is relishing the ‘two-week headstart’ he has on those still away following international duty.
‘It’s down to me at the end of the day,’ Grealish said. ‘I need to train well and prepare well and I know I’ll be at my best.
Jack Grealish returned to pre-season training before many of his Manchester City team-mates
Grealish pictured (left) during Manchester City’s 3-2 defeat by AC Milan in New York last week
‘I’ll be honest, it was probably the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to deal with in terms of my own career. I was absolutely heartbroken.
‘When you’re on your holidays, wherever I was I saw it. For myself moving forward I have to use that as motivation.
‘I’ll try to have the same mentality I had two years ago. My first season at City I don’t think I performed as well as I could. The second I played a lot of games. I wanted to come back stronger.’
Pep Guardiola has insisted that Grealish, who’s featured in both friendly defeats in America, will return to his best. The pair spoke in the days before the FA Cup final on how to address a drop in form but haven’t discussed the Euros.
The City boss said: ‘No complaints. His body language, behaviour, the way he trains is the Jack we know. He’ll be back to his best because we need him.’
Pep Guardiola (right) played Grealish in 20 of City’s 38 Premier League games last season
But Grealish was not selected by Gareth Southgate (left) in England’s squad for Euro 2024
Grealish added: ‘I also had some stuff happening off the field. People from the outside don’t see. They think we’re just robots. We have a life off the field. Sometimes it’s difficult to deal with that. I had some off field stuff which was difficult.
‘I’m not stupid, I know what it takes for myself to bounce back this season. You know how good a player I am, I need to regain my fitness and form and I know what I can do personally.’
