Jack Grealish's New Midfield Role Aims to Break Year-Long Goal Drought

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is implementing tactical adjustments to address the team’s recent struggles, including a seven-match winless streak. A key component of this strategy is repositioning Jack Grealish from his usual winger role to a central midfield position. This shift aims to enhance ball control and tempo in the midfield, areas where City has faced challenges.

Since his £100 million transfer from Aston Villa in 2021, Grealish has primarily operated on the flanks. However, his goal-scoring form has dipped, with his last goal for City recorded in December 2023, marking a year-long drought. Guardiola believes that Grealish’s ball-carrying abilities can be more effectively utilized in a central role, potentially dictating the pace of play and providing greater control during matches.

In a recent match against Liverpool, Grealish was introduced as a central midfielder, a move that Guardiola felt provided the team with better game control. The manager expressed satisfaction with Grealish’s performance, noting, “We control the game, and Jack gave us that pace. When to accelerate and control, he did it really good. I’m so happy for him.”

This positional change is also seen as an opportunity for Grealish to rejuvenate his career at Manchester City, especially after experiencing limited playing time in recent seasons. By adapting to a midfield role, he may find new avenues to contribute to the team’s success and end his goal-scoring drought.

As City prepares for upcoming fixtures, including the Manchester derby, Guardiola’s tactical adjustments, particularly Grealish’s new role, will be closely observed to assess their impact on the team’s performance and Grealish’s individual contributions.