"They bought a model not a football player", "Only player I dislike in this club" - Manchester City fans frustrated as Pep Guardiola names 26-year-old star in starting XI
Manchester City fans are less than pleased to see Jack Grealish line up for Pep Guardiola's side against Sevilla in their Champions League opener on September 6.
The Cityzens head into this season's tournament looking to finally lift the much-elusive Champions League trophy.
The £54 million signing of Erling Haaland has enthused fans and the Norwegian hitman has made a blockbuster start to his City career.
Haaland has bagged 10 goals in just seven appearances so far this season, making his price tag look like a bargain.
However, Manchester City's most expensive player is Grealish. The English attacker joined the Cityzens from Aston Villa last summer for £100 million.
It has been an unconvincing start to life at the Etihad Stadium for the former Villa captain.
He managed 39 appearances last season and scored six goals whilst contributing four assists.
It was a similarly disappointing start for the Englishman ahead of the new campaign.
Grealish has made just three appearances and is yet to contribute a goal or assist.
Despite this, he gets his chance to impress against Sevilla alongside Haaland and Phil Foden in attack.
Meanwhile, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Rodri will start in midfield for Guardiola's side.
New signing Manuel Akanji has been handed a first start by Guardiola, with the Swiss centre-back having followed Haaland from Dortmund to City.
Akanji has been chosen in defense alongside Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias and the Cityzens' new left-back Sergio Gomez.
The Spaniard arrived at City from Belgian side Anderlecht for £11.7 million.
TEAM NEWS
🔵 TEAM NEWS🔵
CITY XI: Ederson, Cancelo, Akanji, Dias, Gomez, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Foden, Grealish, Haaland
SUBS: Ortega Moreno, Carson, Phillips, Ake, Gundogan, Alvarez, Mahrez, Palmer, Lewis, Wilson-Esbrand https://t.co/nb209pmzX1
Eyes are on Grealish and how he fares given that many feel he has not lived up to his £100 million price tag.
Here are some reactions from fans on Twitter to his selection against Sevilla:
Grealish prove me wrong brother! twitter.com/city_xtra/stat…
if grealish wants more gametime he needs to atleast get a goal or assist tn
@TrollFootball Grealish starts for Man City because City are in the denial stage of grief/loss they should just accept that they bought a model and not a football player.
only player i dislike in this club is grealish
@City_Xtra Why the fck is Grealish starting ffs man
Why do i have to watch Grealish and Foden kmt
@City_Xtra pep has an issue with Alvarez now how comes that boy gives his all and doesn’t have to start over grealish
@sudanalytics_ Grealish☠️
Manchester City looking to secure Champions League glory
Manchester City came so close to winning the Champions League back in 2021 but suffered a dramatic 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the final.
This is the closest they have come to winning Europe's premier club competition under Guardiola since the Spaniard took over in 2016.
The Cityzens looked on course to make it to the final last season but were defeated by eventual winners Real Madrid in the dying embers of a tense semi-final.
Guardiola has claimed that the success he manages at the Etihad is not defined by whether he wins the Champions League or not.
However, for all the money spent and talent that has come through the door, it would be a huge disappointment if he were to never lead City to a European title.