Pep Guardiola has dismissed the latest controversy surrounding Jack Grealish’s lifestyle while acknowledging his disappointment over the England international’s challenging season. However, the Manchester City manager remains uncertain about Grealish’s future beyond this campaign.

Grealish, 29, was recently spotted at a social club in the North East just a day after City’s FA Cup victory over Plymouth Argyle. The sighting reignited discussions about his off-field activities. But when asked about the incident, Guardiola refused to be drawn into the debate.

“He’s a public figure, people follow him. I have nothing to say,” Guardiola stated. “A day off is a day off. There’s no training. The players know what’s expected of them, but their private lives are theirs. I evaluate them based on training and their performances on the pitch.”

Despite defending Grealish’s personal choices, Guardiola has been selective in his use of the winger, handing him only six Premier League starts this season. He explained: “I want Jack performing at his highest level, but injuries have held him back. He hasn’t been able to find the rhythm needed to be match-ready every three days.”

Grealish delivered an impressive performance against Plymouth, and Guardiola hopes for greater consistency moving forward. However, when reminded that Grealish’s best league performance of the 2024/25 season came in City’s 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest in December, Guardiola simply remarked, “That was a long time ago.”

As City prepares to face third-placed Forest, Grealish is unlikely to start, with Jeremy Doku preferred on the left wing. Meanwhile, England manager Thomas Tuchel will soon announce his first squad, and Grealish’s limited game time may put his spot at risk for the upcoming international qualifiers and next year’s World Cup.

Speculation is growing that Grealish’s frustration over a lack of minutes could lead him to consider an exit from the Etihad. Addressing the rumors, Guardiola said: “I understand the frustrations of my players. It’s natural to dream of playing in the World Cup or European Championships. What matters most right now is our fight for key trophies. Decisions on the future will be made at the end of the season.”

With Guardiola confirming that Grealish is fit and available for selection, the winger remains an option for the clash at the City Ground. However, Guardiola is expected to favor Doku in the starting lineup.

In other team news, City will be without Nathan Ake for up to three months following foot surgery, adding to their defensive concerns as the season progresses

Tottenham Hotspur suffered a frustrating defeat in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League round of 16 tie, falling 1-0 to AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands. A costly first-half own goal proved decisive as Spurs struggled to break down their Dutch opponents.

Captain Son Heung-min endured a disappointing night, playing 72 minutes without making a significant impact. The South Korean forward managed three attempts but failed to hit the target before being replaced by Dominic Solanke.

The decisive moment came in the 18th minute when Tottenham midfielder Lucas Bergvall inadvertently redirected the ball into his own net, handing Alkmaar the lead. Despite pushing for an equalizer, Spurs couldn’t find a breakthrough and now face an uphill battle in the return leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium next Thursday.

Tottenham, who haven’t lifted a major trophy since their English Football League Cup triumph in the 2007-08 season, are desperate to keep their European hopes alive. Their domestic struggles have compounded their woes, as they sit 13th in the Premier League and have already exited both the FA Cup and League Cup this season.

After the match, Son acknowledged the team’s poor performance, admitting they fell well short of expectations.

“It’s incredibly disappointing, and I include myself in that,” he told TNT Sports. “This is a wake-up call because next week is the biggest game of our season. We lacked creativity in the first half, played carelessly, and didn’t perform the way we should have. No excuses—we simply weren’t good enough. But it’s just 1-0, and we still have a chance. Next week, we must be much better.”

With their European campaign hanging in the balance, Tottenham will need a vastly improved display in front of their home crowd to overturn the deficit and keep their trophy ambitions alive.

Joshua Zirkzee’s early goal had put Manchester United in a strong position against Real Sociedad, but Ruben Amorim’s side failed to hold on for a crucial victory in San Sebastian.

The Dutch striker gave United an early advantage in their Europa League round of 16 clash, only for Mikel Oyarzabal to level the score from the penalty spot. The equalizer came after a VAR review penalized Bruno Fernandes for handball, shifting momentum in favor of the Spanish side.

Real Sociedad pressed hard for a winner in the closing stages, with substitute Orri Oskarsson coming close twice. His first effort was narrowly off target under pressure from Leny Yoro, while his second attempt forced a crucial stoppage-time save from Andre Onana.

United struggled in the final minutes, with head coach Ruben Amorim citing fatigue as a key factor. However, Zirkzee had his own perspective on the team’s late struggles.

Zirkzee Expresses Frustration

Reflecting on the match, the former Bologna forward pointed to United’s inability to maintain composure after conceding.

“If you look at how the stadium reacted to the penalty and how they pressed after the goal, you could tell they needed it,” Zirkzee said. “I think we should have stayed calm and continued playing our game. We lost control a little after that.”

He continued, “We had more to gain from this match. The penalty was unfortunate—I’m still not sure exactly what happened there. But it just proves that we need to be more ruthless with our chances. We created enough opportunities. A draw away isn’t bad, but now they have to come to Old Trafford.”

Zirkzee also suggested that United could have come away with more from the game. “If you analyze the chances we created, we should have scored another. We were up against a strong team, but we should have done better.”

Amorim Acknowledges Turning Point

For Amorim, the penalty incident played a pivotal role in the outcome. “We played well up until the penalty decision,” he admitted. “That moment shifted the momentum, and we struggled to recover.”

Despite the disappointing result, the head coach singled out Zirkzee for praise. The Dutchman had been under scrutiny after missing a crucial penalty in United’s FA Cup exit against Fulham, but he responded with a strong performance in Spain.

“He deserved this goal because he’s been working really hard,” Amorim said. “He’s improving in different aspects of his game, and tonight he was crucial for us.”

Manchester United will now turn their focus to the second leg at Old Trafford on March 13. Before that, however, they face a major Premier League showdown against Arsenal, which could have a significant impact on their domestic campaign