CARABAO CUP FINAL FATAL
Jack reminds Rob of Dutch master Dennis Pep: KDB does not need to
ROBERT PIRES has paid Jack Grealish a massive compliment – by comparing the Aston Villa captain to Dutch legend Dennis Bergkamp.
Former Arsenal winger Pires played alongside Bergkamp (below) during a golden six-year spell with the Gunners.
And the Frenchman believes Grealish’s quality will give Dean Smith’s side the chance to pull off a Wembley sensation today.
Pires reckons that the 24-year-old, Birminghamborn midfielder is so good that he would not look out of place in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City 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, who brought the curtain down on his Premier League career with a season at Villa Park, 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 and 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 and a champion.
“But Grealish is a very 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 at the end of his contract this summer.
But the City boss has already voiced his admiration for Grealish this season, and Pires said: “City need to find a replacement for Silva – and I think Grealish is someone who Pep will look at.
“He is 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 the top clubs, like Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.
“This has been a tough season for Villa, but I think Grealish will take a lot from it. He has learned how to fight every weekend and we have all seen how much it means to him to play for the club.
“Playing against City at Wembley is a great stage for Jack. But not just him. This is a chance for Villa to win a big trophy and that would have a big effect on the rest of their season.
“Can Villa win? In any one game, anything is possible.
I only played one season at Villa
Park, but it is a club with a great history.
“And this is a chance for the players to add to that history.”
Robert Pires was at the launch of Hotels.com’s partnership with Olympique de Marseille. Hotels.com are the new Official Accommodation Partner for the club. For more details: @hotelsdotcom on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram