Guardiola 'pretty sure' Grealish will return to peak form
Jack Grealish played just 10 minutes for Manchester City in May, but Pep Guardiola believes he will be back to his best in 2024-25.
Pep Guardiola is "pretty sure" Jack Grealish will return to his form of old in a Manchester City shirt after an underwhelming 2023-24 campaign.
Grealish was one of the poster boys of City's remarkable treble-winning campaign last year, but he struggled for starts this time around.
The 28-year-old was an unused substitute in the FA Cup final loss to Manchester United and did not feature at all in City's final four games.
Jeremy Doku, who joined last August, was instead preferred from the bench at Wembley and scored for City in their 2-1 defeat.
However, Guardiola believes City's club-record signing will return to his best next season.
"He will be back," Guardiola said. "He’s struggled this season and Jeremy has made an incredible step forward as everyone has seen.
"But Jack will be back at the level of last season, I'm pretty sure."
City became the first club in English football to win four top-flight titles in a row, but they fell short in the Champions League and FA Cup, as well as the EFL Cup.
Star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has just one year to run on his contract, while others - goalkeeper Ederson among them - have been linked with a move away.
The reigning Premier League champions will also no doubt be looking to bring in new players as they prepare to defend their title once again.
"I know some players have to take a decision on whether they stay with us and some players might come," Guardiola said after the defeat to fierce rivals United.
"My sporting director says everything is fine for next year but right now, I don't know what might happen."