Thomas Tuchel sends out strong message to Jack Grealish after Man City star left out of Club World Cup & England squads

Grealish's struggles at City appear to have reached a tipping point, with reports indicating that he will not be part of the club’s squad for the upcoming Club World Cup in the United States. Once considered a marquee player for City following his record-breaking transfer from Aston Villa, the 28-year-old has endured a disappointing 2024–25 campaign that has now put his place in the team in serious jeopardy.

Grealish featured sparingly in the Premier League last season, making just seven starts across the campaign and playing a total of 715 minutes - a considerable decline for a player once viewed as a key creative outlet in Pep Guardiola’s system. Even more telling was his absence from City's squad in the final match of the Premier League season against Fulham, as well as his exclusion from the FA Cup final line-up. On that occasion, Guardiola opted to hand a debut to 18-year-old Claudio Echeverri off the bench, a decision that underlined the manager’s shift in priorities and perhaps his waning trust in the England international.

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Tuchel spoke candidly about the winger’s current plight after leaving Grealish out of his latest England squad, and emphasised the need for the player to regain consistent game time if he hopes to rediscover his best form and push for a return to the national setup.

He said: "I love Jack for his personality and of course his talent. He is a very unique player who can handle big pressure on the field. He is never shy of pressure. It’s the opposite. He grows in big matches but he’s a player who needs minutes and minutes and minutes and simply does not get them for a very long time. That’s basically everything. Nothing has changed."

Tuchel went on to acknowledge reports of Grealish being omitted from City’s Club World Cup squad, adding: "I have maybe the same information as you that City are thinking of not taking him to the Club World Cup. So he needs to make himself available by playing. I think it’s one of his key strengths.

"To go every three days and get better and better with every minute that he has in his legs. That’s what is missing, nothing else. I have spoken to him after the first international camp and very shortly after the FA Cup final, but not since then."

With the 2026 World Cup drawing closer, Grealish is believed to be highly motivated to return to the national fold. A change of scenery may be essential if he is to reclaim his place in the Three Lions squad. Whether that means a fresh start in a different domestic setup or a leap to another European league remains to be seen.