Grealish's omission was a significant talking point prior to the tournament, with many fans and pundits expressing surprise over Gareth Southgateâs decision to leave out the playmaker. The Manchester City star has now admitted that his form at club during the 2023/24 season wasnât up to his usual standards. However, he argued that a team requires balance in every position and believed his experience and achievements warranted his inclusion in the squad.
Advertisement
Getty Images Sport
WHAT GREALISH SAID
"I'll be honest with you â I didn't really agree with it,â Grealish said of Southgate's decision during an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live.
"You need a bit of a balance in every position on the pitch and I class myself [as] quite an experienced player now. I have won a lot of stuff now so, you asked me should I have gone, yes, I still think I should have, but obviously it wasn't meant to be."
When asked if he had a point to prove upon his return, Grealish said: "Of course, I wanted to come here and train well and play well. I thank the manager Lee Carsley for giving me that chance and having that trust in me. It obviously really meant a lot, I think throughout my career when I have played under managers who have shown trust in me and communicated with me the way he has the last two camps, it really helps me. It makes me feel that the manager really does rate me and I can't speak highly enough of him since I have been here."
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images Sport
WHAT NEXT FOR GREALISH?
Looking ahead, Grealish will hope to maintain his place in the England squad and continue to build on his form. With matches against Greece and Finland scheduled this week, he is determined to prove his worth once again and inspire the Three Lions to more victories.