POSTER BOY JACK IS THE GREAL DEAL
JACK GREALISH is relishing his role as England’s poster boy – even if he feels his critics are out to tear him down.
The £100million signing capped off his debut season with Manchester City by winning his first Premier League title after a battle with Liverpool.
Grealish, 25, describes the feat as a “dream come true” despite admitting he could’ve contributed more to Pep Guardiola’s star-studded squad.
Now he turns his attention to England’s Nations League clashes with Hungary, Germany and Italy, with the midfielder looking to kick on having emerged as a leading figure in Gareth Southgate’s youthful squad.
Grealish enjoys being in the spotlight and understands the pressure of being Britain’s mostexpensive footballer.
He said: “It is what it is. If that’s what people think, that’s fine. It’s a good thing to have, you just have to embrace it.
“I try not to let anything get to my head. As long as I’m enjoying myself, playing football and enjoying life off the pitch even, then I’ll perform well.
“Fingers crossed I can do that over the few weeks and few games.”
Grealish joined up with his England teammates having followed up his landmark campaign with an equallymemorable post-season party. He celebrated in style with his City teammates before jetting off to Ibiza – a trip that attracted criticism.
But Grealish will refuse to change his ways and added: “I’m doing what I have loved doing my whole life. I’m the most expensive British player but I’m also the Jack from Solihull my friends and family know. I’ll never let that leave me, no matter what anyone says.
“I know people were saying last week, ‘Oh, he’s doing too much’. But what? I’ve just won the Premier League. It’s a dream come true. Why can’t I go on holiday?
“I love coming here. I love training, playing with the lads. It’s such a good bunch.
“That’s one thing Gareth’s done, he’s made this a team. Somewhere where you enjoy coming to play. I’ve heard people say in the past they didn’t enjoy coming to play for England, 10-15 years ago.
“But credit to the manager he’s made it a place everyone wants to come. Southgate has done a brilliant job. We are all friends.
“We know when we come here we have a job to do together even if we might be rivals on a Saturday, we know we have a job to do here.”
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