Manchester City winger Jack Grealish has admitted he “didn’t agree” with Gareth Southgate’s decision to leave him out of England’s Euro 2024 squad.
Having been a prop to the England installed in the second half of Southgate’s reign, racking up 36 games since 2020, Grealish was expected to be on the plane to Germany in the summer.
Southgate surprisingly chose not to select him, instead giving the nod to the likes of Eberechi Eze and in-form Cole Palmer, both of whom enjoyed fantastic 2023/24 Premier League campaigns.
Grealish was left out of the 26-man squad, largely thanks to his rather woeful form at club level. during cityIn the title-winning season, he managed just four meager goal contributions in 20 Premier League appearances.
Now back in the Three Lions squad under interim boss Lee Carsley following Southgate’s departure, Grealish has opened up to the media about his disappointment at Euro 2024.
“I think everyone can imagine I was absolutely devastated,” he said. “It was probably one of the hardest periods of my life. I think my whole career has been a lot of ups and downs, but yeah, it was definitely right up there in terms of downs.
“I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t really agree with it because that’s just me, you know.
“I felt like I didn’t have the best season. You look at some players, for example, in my position, even the likes of Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, Jarrod Bowen, people like that, they scored a lot of goals. Which I’m 100 for 100% agree, but I just know that my game is not just goals, I think I give a lot more to the team than just goals.
“So yeah, you know, you asked me if I think I should have gone? And I still think yes, I should have, but obviously I shouldn’t have.”
Grealish will play for Carsley’s England during the October international break, having impressed in the new interim manager’s first game in charge against the Republic of Ireland last month, scoring in a 2-0 win at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
