KEEPER, LEADER LEGEND?
I’LL NOT JACK IN BEING WHO I AM
EXCLUSIVE BY MATT MALTBY JACK GREALISH is relishing his role as England’s poster boy, even if he feels his critics are determined to tear him down.
The £100million signing capped off his debut season with Manchester City by winning his first Premier League title after a bruising battle with Liverpool.
Grealish described it as a “dream come true”, although admitted he could have contributed more to Pep Guardiola’s star-studded squad.
Now the 26-year-old turns his attention to England’s Nations League clashes with Hungary, Germany and Italy, and the midfielder is looking to kick on after emerging as a leading figure in Gareth Southgate’s youthful squad.
Grealish (above) insists he enjoys being in the spotlight and understands the pressure that comes with being Britain’s most expensive footballer.
On being the team’s poster boy, he said: “It’s fine. It is what it is. If that’s what people think, that’s fine. I think it’s a good thing to have – and you just have to embrace it.
“I try not to let anything get to my head. It’s all about enjoying it, as long as I’m enjoying myself, playing football and enjoying life off the pitch even then I will perform well. Fingers crossed I can do that over the few weeks and few games.”
Grealish joined up with his England team-mates having followed up his landmark campaign with an equally-memorable post-season party.
The charismatic former Aston Villa captain celebrated in style with City before flying to Ibiza for a holiday which inevitably attracted criticism.
But Grealish will refuse to change his ways, adding: “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 who 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?
“There’s people at England with me now who went to Vegas, Ibiza, Marbella, all these places. No one said a word, but because it was me, people were saying things.
“I love coming here. I love training, playing with the lads. It’s such a good bunch. We always look forward to playing with each other.
“That’s one thing that Gareth has 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, like 10 to 15 years ago.
“But credit to the manager, he’s made it a place where everyone wants to come. Southgate has done a brilliant job here. It’s not how it used to be. 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. We are going to try do that.”