I love watching Jack ... he reminds me of Dennis Bergkamp ROBERT PIRES
ROBERT PIRES has paid Jack Grealish the ultimate compliment – by comparing the Aston Villa captain to Dutch legend Dennis Bergkamp.
Pires, who played alongside Bergkamp during a six-year spell with Arsenal, believes Grealish’s quality will give Dean Smith’s side the chance to pull off a Wembley sensation in today’s Carabao Cup Final clash with Manchester City.
The former Gunners winger says the Birmingham-born midfielder is so good that he wouldn’t look out of place in Pep Guardiola’s side.
And he believes that Grealish now has the stage to show Guardiola why he can be the perfect replacement for David Silva at the Etihad next season.
Pires said: “Jack is a great footballer with a good technique – and I love watching him play because he reminds me of Dennis Bergkamp.
“I like to see him playing in the same position as Dennis, as a No 10.
“He has great vision, he isn’t a selfish player because he always wants to do what is best for the team, and I think he has a great future.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on Jack because he is still a young player learning the game and Dennis was an incredible talent.
“But Grealish is a complete player and I think the key for him is to keep playing like he enjoys his football.”
Guardiola has said that Phil Foden will step into Silva’s boots when the Spaniard ends his 10-year spell with City this summer. But the City boss has already voiced his admiration for Grealish, 24, this season.
And Pires, who spent one season playing for Villa, said: “City need to find a replacement for Silva – and I think Grealish is someone who Pep will look at. He’s English, he has good experience of the Premier League and he has a great technique.
“But I think Grealish is a player who would interest a lot of top clubs, like United, Chelsea and Arsenal.
“It’s been a tough season for Villa, but Grealish will take a lot from it. He has learnt how to fight every weekend and we have all seen how much it means to him to play for the club.
“Playing against Man City at Wembley is a great stage for Jack – but this is also a chance for Villa to win a big trophy and that would have a big effect on the rest of their season.”
But Pires believes Villa’s task has been made even tougher by the Champions League ban looming over City for breaking FFP regulations.
The Premier League champions have won five out of the last six domestic trophies.
And Pires said: “When your club is being attacked off the pitch, it makes you even more determined. I think Pep and his team will want to win this cup more even than they did before.
“Can Villa win? In one game, anything is possible. I played only one season at Villa Park, but it is a club with a great history - and this is a chance to add to that history.”