Jack Grealish planning to use England ‘heartbreak’ as added Manchester City motivation

Jack Grealish has admitted he was ‘heartbroken’ at being omitted from the England squad and said he plans to use it as added motivation this season.

The Manchester City star was called up to the initial 33-man group but didn’t make the cut when the squad was cut to 26 ahead of the tournament in Germany. The former Aston Villa star hasn’t spoken publicly on the matter since Gareth Southgate’s controversial selection, but said he felt the decision to overlook him was a mistake.

“I'll be honest, it was probably football-wise the most difficult thing I've ever had to deal with in my career,” Grealish said ahead of City’s pre-season friendly against Barcelona in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

“I was absolutely heartbroken and then obviously when you're on your holidays, every time you turn on the phone or turn on the TV or whatever you just see it so it was hard to not to see it.

“It was the hardest moment for me as a footballer, I've had a lot of ups and downs in my career so it was difficult. I did watch it, but yeah, obviously it’s difficult to watch because for me personally I was so desperate to be there and it was very difficult.

“I felt I should have been in the squad," the 28-year-old added. “I felt like I offer something different to players in the England squad. Like I said, it was the hardest moment for me as a footballer.”

Grealish’s exclusion came at the end a disappointing 2023/24 campaign when he failed to play a single minute in the final four games, including the FA Cup final. Southgate admitted that other players having enjoyed ‘stronger seasons’ was a factor in his decision, and Grealish said he will use that as to push him on this campaign.

“I have to use that now as motivation going into this season and try and have the same mentality I had two years ago in my first season at City,” the club’s record £100m signing explained.

“I didn’t perform as well as I could have [last season], but in the second I played in a lot of the games and that was down to the first season I had, I wanted to come back stronger. I want to do that again. 

“So I am happy now to be back and to get a full pre-season under my belt. I know it’s easy to say but I feel I am best when I play with confidence and playing regularly.

“When I am at full fitness like I was in the second half of the treble season, I felt so fit and felt I could play every three days. This is my chance now for me to get my fitness and to have a two-week head start and try and be as fit as possible and play with confidence.”