Jack Grealish, the English star of Manchester City, lauds the team’s exceptional performance after scoring two goals in a resounding 3-0 victory against Young Boys of Switzerland. This win secures their spot in the round of 16 in the prestigious Champions League.
According to Manchester City’s official website, Pep Guardiola, the head coach, revealed his confidence in Erling Haaland’s readiness to face Young Boys at Etihad Stadium. The Norwegian striker, initially expected to be sidelined due to an injury sustained during the previous victory over Bournemouth, not only played from the start but also impressively netted two goals. This achievement elevates Haaland’s Champions League goal tally to an impressive 16 in 15 matches since joining the team, with a total of 15 goals across all competitions this season.
Guardiola stated, “I did not speak to him. Yesterday I watched the training session, how he moved, how happy he was, and how good he felt. For us, Erling is very important. His condition has improved, so we decided to play him.” Sniper, another key player, returned to the field and contributed with a powerful long-range shot, securing the third goal for City.
Guardiola commented on Rico Luis’s performance, emphasizing the significance of attacking in the final third with diagonal passes and disrupting the opponent’s movements. He praised Haaland’s effectiveness in key moments, resulting in a spectacular goal, and acknowledged Phil Foden’s remarkable contribution with the second goal.
In the same context, Jack Grealish, who played a vital role in the starting lineup, expressed his admiration for Manchester City and Coach Pep Guardiola. Grealish’s goal helped extend the team’s impressive undefeated run in the Champions League, spanning 17 consecutive matches in the continental championship.
Grealish remarked, “Coach Pep Guardiola gives us a lot. In my opinion, he is the best coach in the world.” He added, “He has shown this over the years. You can have the best coach in the world, but you also need a team and a dressing room to do it.” He further emphasized the strong camaraderie within the team, stating, “We have a great team on the field and also off it. We have a very close team. We like to be with each other, we like to play with each other, and that shows on the field.”
Grealish disclosed that before the match, Coach Guardiola instructed him to adapt to the opponent’s tactics. He said, “But he said when they have 5 defenders at the back, send it straight to the other side, instead of going to each player; Because it takes longer.” Grealish executed this strategy by sending the ball to Phil Foden, who confronted the defender individually, resulting in a successful play.
Expressing his satisfaction at maintaining an unbeaten record in Group G and securing City’s qualification to the round of 16 with two rounds remaining in the group stage, Grealish remarked, “This is what we wanted to do. Every year we play a lot of matches, and most of the time we participate in most of the competitions, so qualifying two rounds before the end of the group stage is what we wanted to do, this was our goal.” He emphasized the goal-scoring aspirations of every player in the offensive line, adding, “I know what I offer the team, in addition to goals and assists. Every player participating in the offensive line wants to score more.”
The English star concluded, reflecting on the team’s performance, “We won 3-0, but on another day we could have scored 5 or 6 goals.” Manchester City‘s impressive display not only secured their qualification but also showcased their potential for a remarkable journey in the Champions League.