I will make Grealish even better player, says Smith
Jack Grealish is already unchallenged in his status as Aston Villa’s biggest talent, yet new manager Dean Smith believes he knows how to turn the young attacking midfielder into a better player still.
Tottenham Hotspur were ready to pay at least £20million for the 23-year-old’s creative talents before Villa’s summer takeover took away the club’s need to sell. However, the former Brentford manager thinks Grealish is not yet making the most of his ability – and needs to learn to play better without the ball.
With a view to putting that right, Smith spent his first week in charge making Grealish run around the training pitch without a ball in sight.
“Jack is an outstanding talent, and he was probably rubbing his hands when he saw me coming, thinking, ‘This is a guy who wants his teams to play,’” Smith said. “And then all the work this week has been without the ball.
“He has probably seen a different side to me – but that is part of his game he needs to do a little bit better. He has not got the goals and assists that somebody of his talent should.”
Grealish made no secret of his disappointment at being denied the chance to join a Premier League club in the summer, yet Smith is pleased with his attitude.
“I invite the players to ask questions, and Jack has been asking questions,” he said. “He has got that desire to get better, and I liked the way he was trying to get in the box more.”
Smith made his bow in front of 41,326 spectators on an afternoon marked with an emotional tribute to the late Sir Doug Ellis, the club’s former groundbreaking chairman.
Tammy Abraham’s first-half header was enough to give him a winning start after Villa’s defence – now coached by John Terry – repelled a string of Swansea City attacks in the second half for only a second clean sheet in the league this season.