Jack Grealish 'gets criticism unfairly' says Joleon Lescott as Manchester City prepare to face United in derby

Joleon Lescott feels criticism of Jack Grealish is unfair, and that the forward is finally showing why Manchester City shelled out £100 million to sign him.

Despite having a stellar attacking cast at his disposal, Pep Guardiola moved for Grealish in the summer of 2021.

There were flashes of brilliance from Grealish in his first season at the Etihad, but he was overshadowed as he leapt from being a big fish in a little pond at Aston Villa to a minnow swimming with sharks at City.

Guardiola never lost faith and has given Grealish chances to shine in the 2022/23 season.

His form has been good and although the goals have not flowed, he has fitted in extremely well as a foil for the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland.

City face a local derby against Manchester United on Saturday, and Lescott feels it will be another chance for Grealish to silence his critics and show that he is of huge value to Guardiola.

“It’s a hard one for Jack with the price tag,” former City defender Lescott told BT Sport, who are showing the Manchester derby which kicks off live from 12:30pm on Saturday. “It’s forever going to be associated with him and rightly so because he deserved to be bought for that money. It’s always unfair that it’s been justified that’s he’s not worth that to Man City. He was worth that to Aston Villa, and more, due to keeping them in the league. If he wasn’t at Villa I don’t believe they would’ve stayed in the league, and it generates £150m to stay in the league.

“He gets criticism unfairly but his contribution for City has been there. He scored a massive goal at West Ham last season. There’s probably not been as many moments as he’d hoped, but when you’re playing with higher calibre players other people are going to contribute.

“Grealish doesn’t need to be man of the match every week. Kevin De Bruyne doesn’t need to be man of the match every week. That’s what we’re missing and thinking Grealish needs to do certain things when other players need to do their job.”

Marcus Rashford has been in sizzling form for the Red Devils, and Lescott feels he is the only player City would take from the United squad.

“That’s not taking (Phil) Foden or Grealish out, but you would have Rashford,” Lescott said when asked who he would take from Old Trafford. “Marcus Rashford is so dominant, something is going to have to come from him in order for United to win the game.”

City go into the Manchester derby trailing leaders Arsenal by five points in the Premier League.

It could be a big weekend in the title race, as Arsenal travel to Tottenham for a north London derby on Sunday, and Lescott feels City will be confident provided they have the destiny of the title in their own hands.

“The last few winners we’ve seen go on a run of 10 or 12-game winning streak,” Lescott said. “If City build up that momentum, Arsenal are going to have to match that.

“It won’t be possible for both teams because they face each other in a short space of time.

“As long as it’s in City’s hands they’ll be confident they can get it done.”