What Jack Grealish said about competition with Jeremy Doku for starting spot on Man City left

Jack Grealish has insisted that his competition with Jermey Doku for a place in Manchester City’s attack is only a good thing for the team.

One of Grealish or Doku have tended to start at left wing for City in recent months, and rarely have they both been selected in the same starting XI. In fact, in 10 games since the former returned from injury in late September, only once have the pair started alongside each other.

The duo have both impressed when selected recently, with Doku registering four assists and a goal in the weekend win over Bournemouth, while Grealish has performed well in a more disciplined role across the last two games in the Champions League, as well as the Manchester derby.

Pep Guardiola has been asked numerous questions about the pair over the last few weeks, and said on Saturday that wanted Grealish to be ‘angry’ that he didn’t feature against Bournemouth.

But Grealish has said that level of competition is needed in a successful side. “First and foremost, he’s a brilliant guy and I think that’s what the manager has instilled here, which is brilliant,” the former Aston Villa star told TNT Sport Brazil, after the 3-0 win over Young Boys on Tuesday night. 

“We have a brilliant team but we have brilliant people off the pitch and to be a successful team that’s what you need. He’s come in and has got a great personality, a really good guy. 

Last year we had me, [Riyad] Mahrez, [Phil] Foden, Bernardo Silva that can all play on the wing and Riyad has left this year and Phil has left the left side and gone to the right, so there is me and Jeremy on the left now.

“Like I said, that’s what you need if you want to do what we did last season: win the treble and win these trophies. You need to have competition for places everywhere and he’s a really good guy and a world-class player.”

The victory over Young Boys ensures City will play in the knockout stages of the Champions League later this season, while the win also saw City set a new unbeaten record in Europe for an English side, which now stands at 18 matches.