Grealish: Adapting to Manchester City much harder than I expected

Manchester City's Jack Grealish says adapting to life at the Premier League champions has been "so much more difficult" than he expected, and accepts the pressure that comes with his huge price tag.

Attacking midfielder Grealish has yet to properly hit top form for City since his bumper move from Aston Villa in the last transfer window.

So far, Grealish has contributed three goals, three assists and created 44 chances for his team-mates across 20 appearances in all competitions.

The spotlight was on Grealish and team-mate Phil Foden when the duo were pictured leaving a nightclub following City's 7-0 hammering of Leeds United, with the club said to have been unhappy with their condition when they turned up for a recovery session the following day.

That saw both players miss out in the 4-0 rout of Newcastle United, though they could be back when Pep Guardiola's side host Leicester City on Boxing Day.

"Some people take a year to adapt here so maybe it will be the same for me"

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of that fixture, Grealish reflected on life at City since his move.

"I've done okay so far. I've got so much more to give. It's been so much more difficult than I thought it was going to be," he said.

"I'm still learning and adapting. I've heard some people take a year to adapt here so maybe it will be the same for me. I want to score more and set up more goals next year.

"It's crazy because the standards here are so high on and off the pitch. It's unbelievable and it's why they have been so successful over the years.

"Having a £100m price tag means when you are going through a dry patch people ask if you are worth the money - where are his goals, where are his assists? I understand that, but I have to see it as a privilege that the club wanted to spend that much money on me and I hope I can repay them with goals and trophies.

"Playing in the Champions League is completely different to the Premier League - I had never played in Europe before, and I really wanted to. It's unbelievable to hear the Champions League anthem, it makes you pinch yourself. It's one trophy the players here really want to win."

Prior to his move to City, Grealish was part of the England side that reached the final of the rescheduled Euro 2020, only to suffer penalty shoot-out heartbreak against Italy in the Wembley final.

See also:

Euro 2020 final run "the best summer of my life", says Grealish

Grealish described 2021 as the "best summer of my life" and is able to reflect back with pride on England's tournament.

"Playing for England in the summer was unbelievable. Now it's gone, I look back on memories and photos and videos and I realise just how special it was," he added.

"It was such a shame to lose on penalties, it is one of the worst ways to lose. Looking back it was definitely the best summer of my life. 

"It was special for the country and the players and our families. It was a shame we couldn't go all the way, but it makes us more motivated to go all the way in the World Cup next year.

"Of course, we can win the World Cup. I'm not going to sit here and say we are going to win it. We've definitely got a good chance and the way we played in the Euros gives us belief that we can win the World Cup.

"I came here to City to try and win trophies. That's what you look at when your career ends - trophies and medals. Losing out with England has made me want to win trophies with City even more. 

"We are playing some brilliant football at the moment and we are giving ourselves a really good chance of going on and winning a few trophies. That's why I came here."