Jack Grealish: Man City playmaker ‘has to produce’, says Guardiola

Manchester City head Pep Guardiola has praised Jack Grealish for being “aggressive” during nan Cityzens’ 2-2 tie pinch Barcelona, adding that nan playmaker “has to beryllium himself” pinch nan caller Premier League play looming.

City doubly fell down successful nan first half, Pau Victor and Pablo Torre scoring for Barca either broadside of 19-year-old midfielder Nico O’Reilly’s extremity successful Orlando.

Grealish equalised pinch an emphatic onslaught successful nan culmination of a City counter-attack featuring a blistering Mateo Kovacic tally earlier nan Spanish giants won a punishment shoot-out courtesy of Ander Astralaga’s saves from Kalvin Phillips and Jacob Wright.

An INCREDIBLE tally from @mateokovacic8, vanished clinically by @JackGrealish 🔥

Watch unrecorded connected CITY+ ⤵️

— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 31, 2024

Man City vs Barcelona: Guardiola ‘pleased’

“I cognize his power is bully but he made 4 aliases 5 shots,” Guardiola told City’s website. “Competition will beryllium high. He has to beryllium himself and I’m pleased pinch nan measurement he played. He has to produce.”

City’s US circuit has delivered 16 goals successful 3 matches but they are yet to triumph successful pre-season pursuing single-goal defeats to Celtic and Milan.

Guardiola took restitution from elder players gaining clip connected nan transportation while again praising nan likes of midfielder Oscar Bobb and defender Rico Lewis and suggesting O’Reilly tin play arsenic a holding midfielder.

👏 The walk from @JoskoGvardiol4
🤩 The decorativeness by Nico O’Reilly

We’re level. Watch unrecorded connected CITY+ ⤵️

— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 31, 2024

Nico O’Reilly ‘a leader’

“He had a agelong wounded past play and he came backmost successful nan mediate and trained pinch us,” Guardiola recalled aft nan Englishman scored his first elder goal.

“I said ‘wow, this feline has bully things’. He’s a bully leader, truthful beardown successful nan duel and successful mini spaces. In attacking midfield he arrives well, and erstwhile holding he can, too.

“We person Kalvin [Phillips] and Kova[cic], who played incredibly well, and Nico. I cognize he tin play. It’s difficult to prolong 90 minutes but he tin thief america because he’s a subordinate pinch a batch of quality.”

Super Jack! 🙏

Watch LIVE ➡️ https://t.co/uXzOT66tzE

🔵 2-2 🩵 #ManCity pic.twitter.com/SSXBfnxrnN

— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 31, 2024

Man City US tour: ‘Getting better’

The commencement of nan lucifer was delayed by a storm. “It was a really, really bully crippled successful unspeakable conditions,” said Guardiola. “The crippled was truthful entertaining pinch a batch of chances. Kovacic made an unthinkable effort aft 1 training session. Our beingness crippled is getting better.”

City look Chelsea successful Ohio connected Saturday (10.30pm BST) earlier returning to England to meet Manchester United successful nan Community Shield connected August 10 (3pm).

Their Premier League play starts astatine Chelsea connected August 18 (4.30pm), pinch their first location crippled against Ipswich Town six days later (3pm).