City forward Grealish admits 2024 'most difficult year of my life'

"This has been the most difficult year of my life." These were Jack Grealish's words as he spoke honestly about his struggles over the past 12 months. The £100 million signing has endured a challenging year between club and country as he was axed from Gareth Southgate's England Euro 2024 squad last summer before he went on to terminate the 2024 calendar year without scoring a single goal for Manchester City (official match).

"Last year, the whole year itself, it was weird because my little daughter was born, but apart from that it was one of the most difficult years - probably the most difficult year of my life for many reasons, on and off the pitch," the Englishman said after setting up the pass for De Bruyne's winner against Leyton Orient on Friday in the FA Cup.

But the 29-year-old is ready to move past the past year and start 2025 with a fresh mindset. "I found it really difficult. But it’s a new year, a sort of fresh start, and hopefully, I can kick on from here," he added. "I feel like in my last few games that I have played, against Palace, Salford and Orient, I am trying to be involved more in the goals and assists."

Having spent most of the season on the bench, Grealish insisted he is keen on reclaiming a starting place to find more rhythm. "Listen, I want to start playing more often and have that rhythm - the way I was a couple of years ago when I was playing a lot of games in a row. I do find it difficult at times to come in and out of games, not really playing. Hopefully, I can keep training well and playing a few more games.”

City boss Pep Guardiola also spoke on the former Aston Villa gem, praising him for his performance and "fighter" instincts after securing his ticket for the FA Cup fifth round against the League One side. "I’m really pleased for Jack. He has this sense of being a player of the street. Today most of the players are, for the manager, so academic - you have to do this, you have to do that. But in the stadiums when the people shout, Jack is a fighter.

 

February 9, 2025