Kantersieg gegen Newcastle: City baut Vorsprung auf Liverpool aus

Manchester City nutzte den Patzer des FC Liverpool im Rennen um die Meisterschaft eindrucksvoll und baute den Vorsprung an der Tabellenspitze durch ein 5:0 gegen Newcastle aus – in doppelter Hinsicht.

Gegen Newcastle gelang den Skyblues ein 5:0-Kantersieg.

Gegen Newcastle gelang den Skyblues ein 5:0-Kantersieg.

Getty Images

Pep Guardiola nahm nach dem bitteren Ausscheiden in der Champions League beim 1:3 in Madrid vier Änderungen vor: Zinchenko, Gündogan, Sterling und Grealish begannen für Walker, Bernardo Silva, Mahrez und Foden.

Eddie Howe wechselte nach dem 0:1 bei Liverpool auf drei Positionen in der Startelf Newcastles: Schär, Shelvey und Willock wichen für Lascelles, Longstaff und Wood.

Sterling eröffnet, Burns Ausgleich zählt nicht

City startete gewohnt dominant und hatte in der zehnten Minute die erste Topchance, die Laporte noch ausließ. Nur fünf Minuten später verpasste mit Cancelo ein Defensivkollege die zweite große Möglichkeit der Skyblues, die aber nur kurz darauf erfolgreich waren: Gündogan bediente Cancelo, der auf Sterling querlegte, der wiederum aus kurzer Distanz einnickte (19.). Doch zu diesem Zeitpunkt hatte auch Newcastle noch seine Momente und erzielte den vermeintlichen Ausgleich durch Burn, vor dem Bruno Guimaraes jedoch im Abseits gestanden hatte.

Es war das vorerst letzte offensive Lebenszeichen der Gäste, die in der 34. Minute Glück hatten, dass der letzte Ball einer wunderbaren Kombination des Favoriten keinen Abnehmer fand. Ein Versäumnis, das Laporte kurz darauf vergessen machte, indem er einen Abstauber zur 2:0-Halbzeitführung verwertete (38.).

Auch nach der Pause änderte sich das Bild nicht. Die Citizens blieben die deutlich gefährlichere Mannschaft und legten nach einer guten Viertelstunde in Person von Rodri nach (61.). Auch die Entscheidung veranlasste die Hausherren aber zunächst nicht dazu, einen Gang zurückzuschalten. Stattdessen verpasste Zinchenko wenige Minuten später noch den vierten Treffer (68.).

Skyblues gelingt mögliche Vorentscheidung

In der Schlussphase nahm sich City dann aber doch etwas zurück, weshalb die Gäste zur besten Chance des Spiels kamen: Ederson pariert im Eins-gegen-eins gegen Joker Wilson (83.). Angestachelt von der Möglichkeit Wilsons schlugen die Hausherren dann doch noch mal zu – und das gleich doppelt: Erst vollendete der eingewechselte Foden selbst (90.), ehe er den Schlusspunkt Sterlings gemeinsam mit Grealish sehenswert vorbereitete (90.+3).

Durch den 5:0-Kantersieg setzen sich die Skyblues drei Punkte vor Liverpool (am Samstag nur 1:1 gegen Tottenham) an die Tabellenspitze und landen einen womöglich vorentscheidenden Dreier im Titelkampf. Und das in doppelter Hinsicht: Auch die Tordifferenz ist nun um vier Treffer besser als die der Reds.

Tore und Karten

1:0
Sterling (19′, Kopfball, Joao Cancelo)

2:0
Laporte (38′, Linksschuss, Ruben Dias)

3:0
Rodrigo (61′, Kopfball, De Bruyne)

4:0
Foden (90′, Linksschuss, Zinchenko)

5:0
Sterling (90′, Rechtsschuss, Foden)

Tore und Karten

1:0
Sterling (19′, Kopfball, Joao Cancelo)

2:0
Laporte (38′, Linksschuss, Ruben Dias)

3:0
Rodrigo (61′, Kopfball, De Bruyne)

4:0
Foden (90′, Linksschuss, Zinchenko)

5:0
Sterling (90′, Rechtsschuss, Foden)

Manchester City

De Bruyne (75. )

Newcastle United


Manchester City

ManCity


Manchester City

ManCity

Aufstellung

Einwechslungen

Reservebank

Trainer:


Newcastle United

Newcastle


Newcastle United

Newcastle

Aufstellung

Einwechslungen

Reservebank

Trainer:

Schiedsrichter-Team
Stuart Attwell

Stuart Attwell
England

Schiedsrichter-Team

Stuart Attwell

Stuart Attwell
England

Spielinfo


Stadion

Etihad Stadium

Zuschauer

53.336

Spielinfo


Anstoß

08.05.2022, 17:30 Uhr


Stadion

Etihad Stadium Manchester


Zuschauer

53.336


Eckenverhältnis

8:2

Den nächsten Schritt auf dem Weg zur Meisterschaft kann City bereits am Mittwochabend (21.15 Uhr) bei den Wolverhampton Wanderers gehen. Newcastle ist erst am 16. Mai wieder gefordert. Um 21 Uhr ist Arsenal im St. James’ Park zu Gast.

Kantersieg gegen Newcastle: City baut Vorsprung auf Liverpool aus

Manchester City nutzte den Patzer des FC Liverpool im Rennen um die Meisterschaft eindrucksvoll und baute den Vorsprung an der Tabellenspitze durch ein 5:0 gegen Newcastle aus – in doppelter Hinsicht.

Gegen Newcastle gelang den Skyblues ein 5:0-Kantersieg.

Gegen Newcastle gelang den Skyblues ein 5:0-Kantersieg.

Getty Images

Pep Guardiola nahm nach dem bitteren Ausscheiden in der Champions League beim 1:3 in Madrid vier Änderungen vor: Zinchenko, Gündogan, Sterling und Grealish begannen für Walker, Bernardo Silva, Mahrez und Foden.

Eddie Howe wechselte nach dem 0:1 bei Liverpool auf drei Positionen in der Startelf Newcastles: Schär, Shelvey und Willock wichen für Lascelles, Longstaff und Wood.

Sterling eröffnet, Burns Ausgleich zählt nicht

City startete gewohnt dominant und hatte in der zehnten Minute die erste Topchance, die Laporte noch ausließ. Nur fünf Minuten später verpasste mit Cancelo ein Defensivkollege die zweite große Möglichkeit der Skyblues, die aber nur kurz darauf erfolgreich waren: Gündogan bediente Cancelo, der auf Sterling querlegte, der wiederum aus kurzer Distanz einnickte (19.). Doch zu diesem Zeitpunkt hatte auch Newcastle noch seine Momente und erzielte den vermeintlichen Ausgleich durch Burn, vor dem Bruno Guimaraes jedoch im Abseits gestanden hatte.

Es war das vorerst letzte offensive Lebenszeichen der Gäste, die in der 34. Minute Glück hatten, dass der letzte Ball einer wunderbaren Kombination des Favoriten keinen Abnehmer fand. Ein Versäumnis, das Laporte kurz darauf vergessen machte, indem er einen Abstauber zur 2:0-Halbzeitführung verwertete (38.).

Auch nach der Pause änderte sich das Bild nicht. Die Citizens blieben die deutlich gefährlichere Mannschaft und legten nach einer guten Viertelstunde in Person von Rodri nach (61.). Auch die Entscheidung veranlasste die Hausherren aber zunächst nicht dazu, einen Gang zurückzuschalten. Stattdessen verpasste Zinchenko wenige Minuten später noch den vierten Treffer (68.).

Skyblues gelingt mögliche Vorentscheidung

In der Schlussphase nahm sich City dann aber doch etwas zurück, weshalb die Gäste zur besten Chance des Spiels kamen: Ederson pariert im Eins-gegen-eins gegen Joker Wilson (83.). Angestachelt von der Möglichkeit Wilsons schlugen die Hausherren dann doch noch mal zu – und das gleich doppelt: Erst vollendete der eingewechselte Foden selbst (90.), ehe er den Schlusspunkt Sterlings gemeinsam mit Grealish sehenswert vorbereitete (90.+3).

Durch den 5:0-Kantersieg setzen sich die Skyblues drei Punkte vor Liverpool (am Samstag nur 1:1 gegen Tottenham) an die Tabellenspitze und landen einen womöglich vorentscheidenden Dreier im Titelkampf. Und das in doppelter Hinsicht: Auch die Tordifferenz ist nun um vier Treffer besser als die der Reds.

Tore und Karten

1:0
Sterling (19′, Kopfball, Joao Cancelo)

2:0
Laporte (38′, Linksschuss, Ruben Dias)

3:0
Rodrigo (61′, Kopfball, De Bruyne)

4:0
Foden (90′, Linksschuss, Zinchenko)

5:0
Sterling (90′, Rechtsschuss, Foden)

Tore und Karten

1:0
Sterling (19′, Kopfball, Joao Cancelo)

2:0
Laporte (38′, Linksschuss, Ruben Dias)

3:0
Rodrigo (61′, Kopfball, De Bruyne)

4:0
Foden (90′, Linksschuss, Zinchenko)

5:0
Sterling (90′, Rechtsschuss, Foden)

Manchester City

De Bruyne (75. )

Newcastle United


Manchester City

ManCity


Manchester City

ManCity

Aufstellung

Einwechslungen

Reservebank

Trainer:


Newcastle United

Newcastle


Newcastle United

Newcastle

Aufstellung

Einwechslungen

Reservebank

Trainer:

Schiedsrichter-Team
Stuart Attwell

Stuart Attwell
England

Schiedsrichter-Team

Stuart Attwell

Stuart Attwell
England

Spielinfo


Stadion

Etihad Stadium

Zuschauer

53.336

Spielinfo


Anstoß

08.05.2022, 17:30 Uhr


Stadion

Etihad Stadium Manchester


Zuschauer

53.336


Eckenverhältnis

8:2

Den nächsten Schritt auf dem Weg zur Meisterschaft kann City bereits am Mittwochabend (21.15 Uhr) bei den Wolverhampton Wanderers gehen. Newcastle ist erst am 16. Mai wieder gefordert. Um 21 Uhr ist Arsenal im St. James’ Park zu Gast.

Manchester City v Newcastle – LIVE

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City ease to win over Newcastle to take charge of Premier League title race

Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League after easing to a 5-0 win over Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium.

The hosts, looking to bounce back from Wednesday’s Champions League exit to Real Madrid, dominated throughout and were 2-0 up by half-time thanks to goals from Raheem Sterling and Aymeric Laporte, added to after the break by Rodri, Phil Foden and a second for Sterling.

Both sides missed glorious opportunities early on, with Chris Wood’s tame header easily saved for the visitors, while Laporte and Joao Cancelo blazed off-target at the other end. City were starting to turn the screw though and took the lead on 19 minutes as Sterling nodded home after Cancelo had headed Ilkay Gundogan’s brilliant ball back across goal.

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From then on, the hosts never looked back, dominating possession and controlling the game comfortably. They had a second on 38 minutes as Gundogan’s brilliant volley from the edge of the area was fumbled by Martin Dubravka, who, although blocking Ruben Dias’ rebound, could not prevent the ball being bundled home by Laporte.

Newcastle struggled to get their foot on the ball after the break, with City enjoying 99% of the possession in the opening seven minutes of the second half. It was no surprise, then, that a third was not too far away as Rodri brilliantly headed home Kevin De Bruyne’s corner at the near post.

After that, the hosts eased up a touch, although there was still time for Dubravka to pull off a stunning stop from Oleksandr Zinchenko, diving high to his left to tip around the post.

Dubravka could do nothing about City’s fourth, as substitute Foden swept home from close range. Newcastle were cut to shreds once again in injury time; Sterling slotted home a fifth as City boosted their goal difference – which could still prove pivotal

The result means Newcastle, who should have pulled one back through Callum Wilson late on, miss out on the chance to move into the top half of the table, while Pep Guardiola’s side are now three points clear of Liverpool in first place.

TALKING POINT – No Champions League hangover for City

There was plenty of intrigue over how Manchester City would react to being dumped out of the Champions League in midweek, when they were gut-wrenchingly close to the final, only to concede three goals in six minutes and be dumped out by Real Madrid.

Pep Guardiola’s side showed no ill-effects from that result though. As soon as Sterling scored the opener, they were completely dominant, controlling possession and creating a string of chances against a Newcastle side who simply could not stick with them.

Liverpool’s draw with Spurs, handing over the initiative in the Premier League title race, surely gave City a lift, but it was nonetheless impressive just how comprehensively and comfortably they dispatched a side who had lost just four of their previous 17 top-flight games.

MAN OF THE MATCH – Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

You almost run out of superlatives when describing the Manchester City playmaker, but he was once again the architect, picking passes from deep and orchestrating the pace of the game from midfield.

The Belgium international assisted the third, a beautiful corner routine that he placed perfectly on the head of Rodri, who nodded home from a tight angle.

But his performance was about much more than that, consistently putting City on the front foot by driving forward from midfield before carefully plotting the right ball on almost every occasion. There are few better in the world game.

PLAYER RATINGS

MANCHESTER CITY: Ederson 6, Cancelo 7, Dias 6, Laporte 7, Zinchenko 7, De Bruyne 9, Rodri 7, Gundogan 8, Sterling 7, Jesus 6, Grealish 6. Subs: Fernandinho 6, Foden 7. Egan-Riley n/a

NEWCASTLE: Dubravka 6, Krafth 6, Lascelles 6, Burn 5, Targett 6, Guimaraes 5, Longstaff 5, Joelinton 6, Almiron 5, Wood 5, Saint-Maximin 6. Subs: Trippier 6, Wilson 5, Murphy n/a

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

19’ GOAL – MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 NEWCASTLE (Sterling). It had been coming; City were beginning to turn the screw. Cancelo heads Gundogan’s ball back across goal and picks out Sterling, who nods home from close range.

38’ GOAL – MANCHESTER CITY 2-0 NEWCASTLE (Laporte). De Bruyne sends a corner deep to Gundogan on the edge of the area and Dubravka fumbles the shot. Dias’ follow up deflects back off the goalkeeper to Laporte who bundles into an empty net.

61’ GOAL – MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 NEWCASTLE (Rodri). A glorious bit of football from the hosts, as De Bruyne sends a corner to the near post, Rodri makes a run from the penalty spot and heads home from a tight angle. That was so well orchestrated.

90’ GOAL – MANCHESTER CITY 4-0 NEWCASTLE (Foden). Grealish charges down the left, beating Trippier for pace, before pulling back to Zinchenko, whose shot is heading off-target but Foden helps it home.

90+2’ GOAL – MANCHESTER CITY 5-0 NEWCASTLE (Sterling). Sterling gets his second of the game, comprehensively firing into the far corner after being well picked out by Grealish. Lovely back-heel from Foden in the build up too.

KEY STATS

  • This result now means Manchester City have scored more goals and have a better goal difference than Liverpool, which could be crucial come the end of the season
  • Newcastle have now picked up just two points in their 17 Premier League visits to the Etihad Stadium – they have not won a league game away at Manchester City since the Maine Road days in August 2000

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City ease to win over Newcastle to take charge of Premier League title race

Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League after easing to a 5-0 win over Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium.

The hosts, looking to bounce back from Wednesday’s Champions League exit to Real Madrid, dominated throughout and were 2-0 up by half-time thanks to goals from Raheem Sterling and Aymeric Laporte, added to after the break by Rodri, Phil Foden and a second for Sterling.

Both sides missed glorious opportunities early on, with Chris Wood’s tame header easily saved for the visitors, while Laporte and Joao Cancelo blazed off-target at the other end. City were starting to turn the screw though and took the lead on 19 minutes as Sterling nodded home after Cancelo had headed Ilkay Gundogan’s brilliant ball back across goal.

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From then on, the hosts never looked back, dominating possession and controlling the game comfortably. They had a second on 38 minutes as Gundogan’s brilliant volley from the edge of the area was fumbled by Martin Dubravka, who, although blocking Ruben Dias’ rebound, could not prevent the ball being bundled home by Laporte.

Newcastle struggled to get their foot on the ball after the break, with City enjoying 99% of the possession in the opening seven minutes of the second half. It was no surprise, then, that a third was not too far away as Rodri brilliantly headed home Kevin De Bruyne’s corner at the near post.

After that, the hosts eased up a touch, although there was still time for Dubravka to pull off a stunning stop from Oleksandr Zinchenko, diving high to his left to tip around the post.

Dubravka could do nothing about City’s fourth, as substitute Foden swept home from close range. Newcastle were cut to shreds once again in injury time; Sterling slotted home a fifth as City boosted their goal difference – which could still prove pivotal

The result means Newcastle, who should have pulled one back through Callum Wilson late on, miss out on the chance to move into the top half of the table, while Pep Guardiola’s side are now three points clear of Liverpool in first place.

TALKING POINT – No Champions League hangover for City

There was plenty of intrigue over how Manchester City would react to being dumped out of the Champions League in midweek, when they were gut-wrenchingly close to the final, only to concede three goals in six minutes and be dumped out by Real Madrid.

Pep Guardiola’s side showed no ill-effects from that result though. As soon as Sterling scored the opener, they were completely dominant, controlling possession and creating a string of chances against a Newcastle side who simply could not stick with them.

Liverpool’s draw with Spurs, handing over the initiative in the Premier League title race, surely gave City a lift, but it was nonetheless impressive just how comprehensively and comfortably they dispatched a side who had lost just four of their previous 17 top-flight games.

MAN OF THE MATCH – Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

You almost run out of superlatives when describing the Manchester City playmaker, but he was once again the architect, picking passes from deep and orchestrating the pace of the game from midfield.

The Belgium international assisted the third, a beautiful corner routine that he placed perfectly on the head of Rodri, who nodded home from a tight angle.

But his performance was about much more than that, consistently putting City on the front foot by driving forward from midfield before carefully plotting the right ball on almost every occasion. There are few better in the world game.

PLAYER RATINGS

MANCHESTER CITY: Ederson 6, Cancelo 7, Dias 6, Laporte 7, Zinchenko 7, De Bruyne 9, Rodri 7, Gundogan 8, Sterling 7, Jesus 6, Grealish 6. Subs: Fernandinho 6, Foden 7. Egan-Riley n/a

NEWCASTLE: Dubravka 6, Krafth 6, Lascelles 6, Burn 5, Targett 6, Guimaraes 5, Longstaff 5, Joelinton 6, Almiron 5, Wood 5, Saint-Maximin 6. Subs: Trippier 6, Wilson 5, Murphy n/a

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

19’ GOAL – MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 NEWCASTLE (Sterling). It had been coming; City were beginning to turn the screw. Cancelo heads Gundogan’s ball back across goal and picks out Sterling, who nods home from close range.

38’ GOAL – MANCHESTER CITY 2-0 NEWCASTLE (Laporte). De Bruyne sends a corner deep to Gundogan on the edge of the area and Dubravka fumbles the shot. Dias’ follow up deflects back off the goalkeeper to Laporte who bundles into an empty net.

61’ GOAL – MANCHESTER CITY 3-0 NEWCASTLE (Rodri). A glorious bit of football from the hosts, as De Bruyne sends a corner to the near post, Rodri makes a run from the penalty spot and heads home from a tight angle. That was so well orchestrated.

90’ GOAL – MANCHESTER CITY 4-0 NEWCASTLE (Foden). Grealish charges down the left, beating Trippier for pace, before pulling back to Zinchenko, whose shot is heading off-target but Foden helps it home.

90+2’ GOAL – MANCHESTER CITY 5-0 NEWCASTLE (Sterling). Sterling gets his second of the game, comprehensively firing into the far corner after being well picked out by Grealish. Lovely back-heel from Foden in the build up too.

KEY STATS

  • This result now means Manchester City have scored more goals and have a better goal difference than Liverpool, which could be crucial come the end of the season
  • Newcastle have now picked up just two points in their 17 Premier League visits to the Etihad Stadium – they have not won a league game away at Manchester City since the Maine Road days in August 2000

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Tras la debacle en Champions, a por la Premier

MANCHESTER CITY

Los Citizens vienen de un duro golpe en la Champions frente al Real Madrid y solo vale ganar para reponerse de las heridas. Para ello tendrán en frente al multimillonario Newcastle, ya salvado y con aspiraciones de conseguir su primera victoria en el Etihad. El City de Guardiola tiene que pasar página lo antes posible y, en el caso de ganar hoy, le sacaría 3 puntos al Liverpool de Klopp, que no pasó del empate ayer ante el Tottenham en Anfield.

AS a seguir: De Bruyne. El belga ha estado involucrado en 15 goles en sus últimos 16 partidos (9 goles y 6 asistencias), unos números que le dejan con el mejor ratio en ataque del equipo.

'It's been difficult' – Grealish reflects on his own Man City performances

Jack Grealish has opened up on his tough first season at Manchester City, declaring it has been even more of a culture shock than he expected it would be.

The 26-year-old had spent his entire professional career at Aston Villa prior to his £100m move, and it appears uprooting north has had more of an impact on him not just off the pitch, but on it too.

Grealish has not been a starter for the Citizens in their biggest matches in recent weeks, but when handed the chance to impress from the bench – such as against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals last week – neither has he been able to provide match-defining contributions.

Premier League

‘I shoot less than anyone’ – Grealish wants to be ‘more selfish’

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Speaking to beIN Sports, Grealish said: “I feel like I could have done better, obviously. I’ve said that a lot of times. I feel I could have scored more, assisted more, and had more of an impact on certain games.

“But one thing I’ve realised this year is that even when players have gone for big transfer fees, or have done well and moved to a new club, I’ve watched them and thought ‘How can you struggle? It’s just football’.

“When I’ve done it myself now, I’ve realised there’s much more to it than just 90 minutes on a football pitch once or twice a week.

“There’s adapting to a new changing room, to a new manager, to a new staff, to a while new training ground, to a whole new city. For me, all I’d ever known was being at Aston Villa, and being around my family.

“It’s been different, it’s been difficult, but I knew that it wouldn’t be the same. I knew that I’d have to try and step out of my comfort zone a little bit. It’s probably been more than I thought it would.”

Despite all that, City manager Pep Guardiola is renowned for placing unique tactical demands on his players, and Grealish would not be alone if he needed time to take on board those requirements.

The likes of Riyad Mahrez, Joao Cancelo and Rodri all acclimatised themselves gradually but they are all now flourishing at the Etihad, and a second-season Grealish might look very different to the one City fans have seen this term.

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'It's been difficult' – Grealish reflects on his own Man City performances

Jack Grealish has opened up on his tough first season at Manchester City, declaring it has been even more of a culture shock than he expected it would be.

The 26-year-old had spent his entire professional career at Aston Villa prior to his £100m move, and it appears uprooting north has had more of an impact on him not just off the pitch, but on it too.

Grealish has not been a starter for the Citizens in their biggest matches in recent weeks, but when handed the chance to impress from the bench – such as against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals last week – neither has he been able to provide match-defining contributions.

Premier League

‘I shoot less than anyone’ – Grealish wants to be ‘more selfish’

15/04/2022 AT 09:22

Speaking to beIN Sports, Grealish said: “I feel like I could have done better, obviously. I’ve said that a lot of times. I feel I could have scored more, assisted more, and had more of an impact on certain games.

“But one thing I’ve realised this year is that even when players have gone for big transfer fees, or have done well and moved to a new club, I’ve watched them and thought ‘How can you struggle? It’s just football’.

“When I’ve done it myself now, I’ve realised there’s much more to it than just 90 minutes on a football pitch once or twice a week.

“There’s adapting to a new changing room, to a new manager, to a new staff, to a while new training ground, to a whole new city. For me, all I’d ever known was being at Aston Villa, and being around my family.

“It’s been different, it’s been difficult, but I knew that it wouldn’t be the same. I knew that I’d have to try and step out of my comfort zone a little bit. It’s probably been more than I thought it would.”

Despite all that, City manager Pep Guardiola is renowned for placing unique tactical demands on his players, and Grealish would not be alone if he needed time to take on board those requirements.

The likes of Riyad Mahrez, Joao Cancelo and Rodri all acclimatised themselves gradually but they are all now flourishing at the Etihad, and a second-season Grealish might look very different to the one City fans have seen this term.

Premier League

Pep: I’m upset I wasn’t invited on Grealish’s night out

08/02/2022 AT 15:30

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‘We never expected £100m to be met’ – Smith discusses Grealish’s Man City departure

13/08/2021 AT 11:10

'It's been difficult' – Grealish reflects on his own Man City performances

Jack Grealish has opened up on his tough first season at Manchester City, declaring it has been even more of a culture shock than he expected it would be.

The 26-year-old had spent his entire professional career at Aston Villa prior to his £100m move, and it appears uprooting north has had more of an impact on him not just off the pitch, but on it too.

Grealish has not been a starter for the Citizens in their biggest matches in recent weeks, but when handed the chance to impress from the bench – such as against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals last week – neither has he been able to provide match-defining contributions.

Premier League

‘I shoot less than anyone’ – Grealish wants to be ‘more selfish’

15/04/2022 AT 09:22

Speaking to beIN Sports, Grealish said: “I feel like I could have done better, obviously. I’ve said that a lot of times. I feel I could have scored more, assisted more, and had more of an impact on certain games.

“But one thing I’ve realised this year is that even when players have gone for big transfer fees, or have done well and moved to a new club, I’ve watched them and thought ‘How can you struggle? It’s just football’.

“When I’ve done it myself now, I’ve realised there’s much more to it than just 90 minutes on a football pitch once or twice a week.

“There’s adapting to a new changing room, to a new manager, to a new staff, to a while new training ground, to a whole new city. For me, all I’d ever known was being at Aston Villa, and being around my family.

“It’s been different, it’s been difficult, but I knew that it wouldn’t be the same. I knew that I’d have to try and step out of my comfort zone a little bit. It’s probably been more than I thought it would.”

Despite all that, City manager Pep Guardiola is renowned for placing unique tactical demands on his players, and Grealish would not be alone if he needed time to take on board those requirements.

The likes of Riyad Mahrez, Joao Cancelo and Rodri all acclimatised themselves gradually but they are all now flourishing at the Etihad, and a second-season Grealish might look very different to the one City fans have seen this term.

Premier League

Pep: I’m upset I wasn’t invited on Grealish’s night out

08/02/2022 AT 15:30

Football

‘We never expected £100m to be met’ – Smith discusses Grealish’s Man City departure

13/08/2021 AT 11:10

'It's been difficult' – Grealish reflects on his own Man City performances

Jack Grealish has opened up on his tough first season at Manchester City, declaring it has been even more of a culture shock than he expected it would be.

The 26-year-old had spent his entire professional career at Aston Villa prior to his £100m move, and it appears uprooting north has had more of an impact on him not just off the pitch, but on it too.

Grealish has not been a starter for the Citizens in their biggest matches in recent weeks, but when handed the chance to impress from the bench – such as against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals last week – neither has he been able to provide match-defining contributions.

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Speaking to beIN Sports, Grealish said: “I feel like I could have done better, obviously. I’ve said that a lot of times. I feel I could have scored more, assisted more, and had more of an impact on certain games.

“But one thing I’ve realised this year is that even when players have gone for big transfer fees, or have done well and moved to a new club, I’ve watched them and thought ‘How can you struggle? It’s just football’.

“When I’ve done it myself now, I’ve realised there’s much more to it than just 90 minutes on a football pitch once or twice a week.

“There’s adapting to a new changing room, to a new manager, to a new staff, to a while new training ground, to a whole new city. For me, all I’d ever known was being at Aston Villa, and being around my family.

“It’s been different, it’s been difficult, but I knew that it wouldn’t be the same. I knew that I’d have to try and step out of my comfort zone a little bit. It’s probably been more than I thought it would.”

Despite all that, City manager Pep Guardiola is renowned for placing unique tactical demands on his players, and Grealish would not be alone if he needed time to take on board those requirements.

The likes of Riyad Mahrez, Joao Cancelo and Rodri all acclimatised themselves gradually but they are all now flourishing at the Etihad, and a second-season Grealish might look very different to the one City fans have seen this term.

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