I played alongside Jack Grealish: Here’s why he struggled at Man City

April 29, 2026 Oliver Obel

Jack Grealish's career has taken an unexpected turn, and after a season marked by injuries and a loan spell at Everton, a recent photo of him sleeping on a Manchester rooftop bar has brought him back into the media spotlight. Now, a former teammate, Scott Carson, sheds light on what went wrong for the English star under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

Guardiola's Tactical Straitjacket

Grealish, who moved to Manchester City as one of the Premier League's most creative and free-spirited players, quickly found himself in a more restricted role under Pep Guardiola. According to Scott Carson, who was on Man City's payroll for six seasons, Grealish's frustration was evident. "Jack is the kind of player who needs to play week in, week out, gain confidence, and feel loved," Carson explained on The Good, The Bad & Football podcast. "It obviously didn't work out for him as well as he probably thought it would, because he was obviously used on the left wing. And instead of drifting inside and that kind of thing, his job was to stay on the touchline and hold the ball and obviously draw players over there and then get it to the other side." This tactical discipline, where Grealish's natural inclination to drift inside was suppressed, is believed to have hampered his game. Paul Scholes has previously suggested that Grealish became frustrated with Guardiola's demands.

Cherki Got the Freedom Grealish Missed

Ironically, Grealish's departure from Manchester City has coincided with the arrival of Rayan Cherki from Lyon, a player who seemingly has been granted the freedom Grealish lacked. Cherki's arrival paved the way for Grealish's loan deal with Everton, and the Frenchman has delivered impressive performances in his first season:

Four goals in the Premier League
Ten assists in the Premier League

Nicky Butt, who also participated in The Good, The Bad & Football podcast, commented on the contrast: "I think he (Guardiola) has allowed Cherki to be that little bit of a flair player, a 'maverick'... and go out and, you know, create goals, score goals and win that way. And I think if Jack was in the Man City squad this year, he'd probably be allowed to do a bit more as well."

A Turbulent Everton Stint and a Celebratory Conclusion

Grealish's season at Everton has also not been without its challenges. He contributed two goals and six assists, but his 2025/26 campaign was cut short in January by a stress fracture in his foot, which required surgery and ended his season. After the injury, Grealish had time to relax, which culminated in a "boozy afternoon session with pals" in Manchester last weekend. Images obtained by The Sun showed him sleeping in a chair on a rooftop bar, a moment that quickly went viral and led to criticism from, among others, Gabriel Agbonlahor. With an uncertain future ahead, Jack Grealish faces a crucial period in his career where he must rediscover the form and joy for the game that once made him one of England's most sought-after players. Sources: www.givemesport.com, www.valnetinc.com