Gary Neville has told his Sky Sports podcast that he thinks the “penny has dropped” for Manchester City star Jack Grealish after his stunning display against Manchester United on Sunday evening, in City’s emphatic 4-1 win.
City blitzed United thanks to a brace from both Riyad Mahrez and Kevin De Bruyne, cancelling out Jadon Sancho’s 22nd-minute equaliser. Pep Guardiola’s men were rampant, after a couple of below-par displays of late.
Grealish has struggled to replicate his best form at Manchester City since his British-record £100million move from Aston Villa. But he scored against Peterborough in the FA Cup on Tuesday, and then started at The Etihad.
While he did not record a goal or an assist on Sunday, he was superb. Neville thinks the penny has dropped and that his display against United could be a turning point – giving reasons for his early-season struggles.
“Coming from a club where the standards aren’t as high, it shocks players. Sometimes it doesn’t happen. He could be getting used to Pep Guardiola’s system. Where I see Jack the best, is driving at people.
“Today, the penny dropped, he has been out for six weeks, he looked more athletic, he was more direct, Jack had a little bit more tenacity today. He caused Wan-Bissaka problems. Today, could be the day his form changed.”
Neville on Grealish: Manchester City star was near-perfect against United
As Neville says, he gave £50million right-back Wan-Bissaka a headache all afternoon. The United star did not know whether to close him down and let Grealish get to the byline, cut inside, or supply Joao Cancelo.
Where United were miles off it, City were excellent. Grealish was at the heart of that and more performances like this will prove to the club and its fans that he is worth the enormous outlay that City paid last summer.
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