Jack Grealish explains ‘great relationship’ with Gareth Southgate despite Man City party warning

Jack Grealish has insisted there is no issue whatsoever with England manager Gareth Southgate after the Manchester City star’s well-documented celebrations after winning the treble last week.

The 27-year-old was among a number of City players seen partying in Istanbul, Ibiza and Manchester after claiming the Champions League trophy to round off a historic season for City. Grealish in particular was front and centre of festivities and featured in several viral moments from the weekend, while he also admitted on stage that he ‘hadn’t slept yet’.

As a result, City’s no.10 and his four team-mates - Kyle Walker, John Stones, Kalvin Phillips and Phil Foden - didn’t start in England’s win over Malta last week having met up with the squad the day after the rain-soaked parade in Manchester. Southgate did warn there ‘is a line’ when it comes to partying but Grealish insisted there was no issue whatsoever with how he celebrated the treble triumph, although did admit he was a tad hungover when he joined the group last week.

“I don’t know what you guys [the media] read and think sometimes, or write actually. I have a great relationship with him [Southgate], honestly. A brilliant relationship,” Grealish told reporters after England’s 7-0 win over North Macedonia on Monday night.

“I kind of knew in the back of my head that I wouldn’t play on the Friday. But even so I came into camp on Tuesday night, I was a bit hungover but I wasn't drunk or anything. I came into camp with the other guys, we slept then woke up and trained Wednesday. We trained Thursday and, like I said, in the back of my mind, I knew I wasn't going to play on the Friday. Then the Saturday, I trained and trained well. Then the Sunday.”

After being left out against Malta, Grealish was introduced from the bench in the win over North Macedonia and played just over half an hour at Old Trafford. “I thought it was going to be a toss up with who plays,” explained the ex-Aston Villa captain. “It could have been any of us. Me, Phil or Rashy [Marcus Rashford]. Obviously it was Rashy and you can’t complain. I came on tonight and I’m just happy. I’ve had a brilliant season, the most successful season of my life and I think there is a time now I can just relax.

Reflecting more on the treble celebrations, Grealish added: “I knew I was doing, that's just the way I am, I'm like that when I party usually. We've won the treble and it's something that might never happen again. So I went and enjoyed myself and I wasn't the only one - I think a lot of the time you'll see everyone recording me, I could show you all this stuff other people where they were the same.

“It is now 19 June, I came into training last year on the 13 July,” he added. “Years ago, you'd have a season for nine months, I've just laid out [nearly] a 12-month season. I've been to a World Cup, I've won three trophies and then I'm going to be back training now in four weeks or so - why not enjoy myself?

“My emotions have been so high. When I was sitting in the camp on Thursday, it was the biggest high I'd been on in my whole life at the weekend. You come into the camp, you sit on your own in your room and think 'will I ever feel that high again?'.”