Pep Guardiola sends Jack Grealish warning to Bayern Munich after Manchester City win over Southampton

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola hailed Jack Grealish’s recent form after his side claimed a 4-1 win against Southampton at St. Mary’s on Saturday evening.

Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez were also amongst the goals as the Premier League champions reduced their deficit to leaders Arsenal in the table to five points ahead of the Gunners’ meeting with Liverpool on Sunday.

City remain in the hunt for a third straight league title ahead of key upcoming Champions League quarter final and FA Cup semi final ties in the coming weeks.

A visit from Thomas Tuchel and Bayern Munich next awaits the Blues as Guardiola hopes to lead Manchester City to the last four of the Champions League for the third season running.

Guardiola went full strength against Southampton on Saturday as Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez partnered Erling Haaland in attack for the visitors, who swept the Saints away with their attacking brilliance in the second half.

Grealish netted in successive games for the first time since joining Manchester City last summer and subsequently set up Haaland for his 30th league goal of the campaign and 44th across all competitions.

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Heaping praise on his record signing’s eye-catching form ahead of Tuesday’s visit from Bayern Munich, Guardiola said: “He (Grealish) has been really good. With the quality we have up front, it can make the difference.”

Grealish picked up where he left off against Liverpool last week, when he produced a man-of-the-match performance and led City to a stylish 4-1 triumph over Jurgen Klopp’s men in what was arguably his finest showing for the Premier League champions.

“He (Grealish) had a big, big chance in the first minutes and it could have changed how we played in the first half, but sometimes you have to mature into the game and keep the focus,” Guardiola added.

After struggling to establish a regular starting place in his first season in Manchester, Grealish has been one of Manchester City’s most impressive attacking outlets this term.

Since the Qatar World Cup, the 27-year-old has been in red hot form and is expected to start when City take on Bayern in the opening leg of the Champions League quarter final on Tuesday.

Guardiola will be hoping that Grealish has replicate his recent Premier League heroics in the remainder of the season as the games come thick and fast for City, who are still in the running for a treble of trophies come the end of the season.