Grealish has started 13 times for City this season
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has explained why he dropped Jack Grealish for the Manchester derby.
The England international has started nine of City’s opening 10 Premier League fixtures, but the 26-year-old found himself on the bench for the Sky Blues’ clash against rivals United.
Since his £100 million move from Aston Villa in the summer, Grealish has made 15 appearances for Guardiola’s side, registering two goals and three assists.
The Spanish coach opted for a front three of Phil Foden, Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus against the Red Devils, revealing that he dropped Grealish so that he could play a left-footed attacker on the left-wing.
Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of Saturday’s clash, the 50-year-old said: “It’s simple. We want a left foot on the left side and right foot on right side”.
🗣"We want a left foot in the left side and a right foot in the right side."
Pep Guardiola gives his reason to not starting Jack Grealish pic.twitter.com/zDu5RPaTj2
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) November 6, 2021
Grealish has played from the left-wing in 12 of his 15 appearances for the Sky Blues, with his two goals and three assists coming from that position.
City came into the derby having won six, drawn two and lost two of their opening 10 Premier League matches, whereas Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s men have won five, drawn two and lost three.
As well as both sides finding themselves in the top five, they both currently sit top of their respective Champions League group.
United were victorious the last time that the two sides faced each other, securing a 2-0 win away from home thanks to goals from Bruno Fernandes and Luke Shaw.
Should the home side triumph over Guardiola’s men, they will go level on points with City.
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- Dirk Kuyt slams price Man City paid for Jack Grealish
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