I’M JACK RELISH
Star can’t wait to lead Villa in relegation fight
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JACK GREALISH is relishing the pressure of being Aston Villa’s talisman in their Premier League relegation battle.
And the Villa skipper aims to turn on the style like Manchester City maestro Kevin De Bruyne to ensure his hometown team stay up. Villa are back in action on June 17 when they host Sheffield United knowing a win would lift them out of the bottom three. Grealish, 24, said: “Being the local lad and captain of the club, I absolutely love it and try to take it in my stride, which I think I have done this season. I embrace it, I love the fact it is like that. “Since they wanted us to get playing again, I was the first back, I was desperate to get playing again. “We have 10 very important games left and the first one will probably be the most important.” Grealish was in hot form before the coronavirus shutdown, claiming seven goals and six Premier League assists this season. The most fouled player in the top flight, who is a £70m summer target for Manchester United, is confident he can continue where he left off. There will be no fans in the grounds but Grealish said: “Everyone is going to be watching these games when the Premier League starts back. I feel I thrive off that. “It is going to be so different without fans, it is not the same. It is going to be tough – Villa have got most of our points from our home games with the crowd behind us. “But I have played in reserve and youth games at Villa Park with no fans and I am sure we will practise it too.” Grealish helped Villa reach the
Carabao Cup Final this season against
Manchester City, with De Bruyne helping the holders to a 2-1 win.
Grealish says the Belgium playmaker is a huge inspiration. “I think he is unbelievable,” he added. “I try and base my game on him a little, especially when I play as a No.8.
“He is definitely the best player in the Premier League and up there, in my opinion, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe this season.”
Grealish was expected to get his first senior England call-up in March before the pandemic struck.
But the star knows he is walking a tightrope after being forced to apologise for breaking lockdown.
Grealish has since donated £150,000 to Birmingham Children’s Hospital and raised more than £55,000 for the NHS by raffling one of his shirts.
He added: “I tried to make amends straight away by coming out and doing a public apology.
“It is something I don’t look back on with pride, but we all make mistakes.”