Jack Grealish has stressed one of the important lessons he has learned at Manchester City that the players constantly discuss.
Being at City, the £100 million man would likely have learned several lessons, both on and off the pitch.
Fundamentally, the Englishman would have understood the concept of division of labour at a big club.
In a mid-table team like Aston Villa, it is natural that the best player at the time would constantly be handed the ball to create a moment of magic; as was the case with James Maddison at Leicester City.
However, in a team like City, with as many top players, every player is supposed to play a certain role within the overarching framework set up by Pep Guardiola.
As a result, even superstars like Phil Foden often have to sacrifice their instincts and where they prefer to play to suit the team’s approach on the day.
Grealish says there’s something very important the City players always “talk about”
Off the pitch as well, Grealish must have learned how to digest wins as well as draws and losses.
When Manchester City win a game or the 28-year-old puts in a brilliant display, all eyes are naturally on the team as well as him.
That is the nature of big clubs, which generate the most interest from fans and pundits alike in any country.
However, the same occurs when the team in question draw or lose a match and the biggest names are torn to shreds.
How to digest the highest of highs and the lowest of lows is a key part of being a superstar at a big club.
But there is another lesson that Grealish has learned at the Etihad Stadium.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Jack Grealish initially discussed the importance of being mentally strong at a club like Manchester City.
“To be mentally strong is one of the most important things that you need to be. It’s one of the main things of playing for a big club like City.”
“It’s all good taking the ball when it’s 3-0 or 4-0, but it’s those moments when it’s 0-0 and you’re playing at an away ground – whether that’s Anfield or somewhere where the fans are on you, taking the ball and wanting the ball in those situations.”
But a lesson Jack Grealish seems to have learned from his Manchester City teammates is focusing on the next game at all times.
“One thing that’s quite big at City and that we talk about a lot is just concentrating on the next game. All you can really do is concentrate on the next game.”
Being present might be the most crucial lesson Grealish has learned
With the number of difficult games Manchester City have to play, their key players like Jack Grealish need to be present.
Looking too far ahead is futile.
When City had to play teams like Real Madrid and Chelsea in successive games, to consider either of the games as a routine win would have been silly.
As a team like Los Blancos are capable of pulling off a surprise and so are the Blues.
One of the teams did and the other were on the verge of doing so before Bernardo Silva’s winning goal.
Mentally, if players like Manchester City attacker Jack Grealish fully focus on the next game in hand, they will likely give their all to win.
For City’s sake, one hopes that is how Grealish is looking at his side’s upcoming contest against Wolves.