Pep Guardiola provides update on Jack Grealish’s latest injury setback ahead of Chelsea opener

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has delivered a fitness update on Jack Grealish, after the forward was left out of the Community Shield win over Manchester United.

The 28-year-old featured in all of Manchester City’s pre-season contests over in the United States throughout last month and into August, but returned to England and City Football Academy duties by missing the opening competitive fixture of the season.

Despite having trained with the wider Manchester City first-team group throughout last week, media reports on Saturday revealed that Jack Grealish had sustained a concern in Friday’s final warm-up session, forcing a withdrawal from starting line-up plans.

Thankfully for Pep Guardiola and the player’s selected for duties at Wembley Stadium in the traditional curtain-raiser to the new season, Manchester City were able to get across the line and claim the first piece of silverware of the 2024/25 campaign.

Speaking during the second-half of his post-match press conference following the club’s Community Shield win over Manchester United, Pep Guardiola was however able to provide an update on Jack Grealish’s fitness with the new season looming.

“Apparently it’s not much. In the last two days, he didn’t feel good, discomfort in the training session,” Guardiola said. “We trained, in the last two days, with the line-up (for the Community Shield against Manchester United), the starting eleven and he trained.”

He continued, “But in the last two days or especially yesterday, I know quite well his face was not good. I talked with the doctors and he was not fine and that’s why we did not want to take a risk. I think it’s not a big issue but he could not be here.”

Manchester City open up their account in the 2024/25 Premier League season with a trip to face Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, before returning to top-flight duties at the Etihad Stadium against newcomers Ipswich Town.

It will be the second time in just three weeks that Manchester City will have faced Chelsea, having scheduled a warm-up contest against the West London club in Columbus, Ohio during their pre-season tour of the United States.

An Erling Haaland hat-trick and an effort from bright spark Oscar Bobb built a four-goal rout for the reigning Premier League champions, whilst Chelsea were able to give their Stateside support something to cheer about with two late goals of their own.