Nov 25, 2022; Al Khor, Qatar; England midfielder Jack Grealish (7) dribbles the ball while defended by United States of America defender Shaq Moore (18) during the second half of a group stage match during the 2022 World Cup at Al Bayt Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danielle Parhizkaran-USA TODAY Sports

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Thomas Tuchel Sends Warning to Jack Grealish but Keeps Door Open for England Return

Tuchel opined that the decision to leave Grealish out of the squad was influenced by his lack of game time at Manchester City this year.

England manager Thomas Tuchel has addressed the omission of Manchester City winger Jack Grealish from his first England squad. Tuchel reassured that Jack Grealish remains part of his long-term England plans. However, the England manager has issued a warning to the Manchester City midfielder, emphasizing the importance of how his off-field behavior is perceived.

Tuchel opined that the decision to leave Grealish out of the squad was influenced by his lack of game time at Manchester City this year. The 27-year-old has struggled for minutes, making only three substitute appearances in the Premier League since the start of the calendar year. With fierce competition for places in the England squad, Tuchel has urged Grealish to focus on regaining form and consistency at the club level if he wants to force his way back into the England squad.

Thomas Tuchel: “I love Jack Grealish! I love EVERYTHING about him. I love his personality, I love his quality. The guy has courage, he can take the heat, he’s not afraid of the Bernabeu whistles when he’s on the ball.

So is he a player that should be available and can have an… pic.twitter.com/9Hfb8fOLFo
— City Report (@cityreport_) March 14, 2025

I Love Everything About Jack: Tuchel

Thomas Tuchel spoke about his admiration for the Manchester City midfielder’s abilities and character, despite his exclusion from the latest England squad. The England manager was full of praise, stating, “I love everything about him – his personality, I love his quality, the guy has courage, he can take the heat, he is not affected if the Bernabeu whistles him.” However, he noted that Grealish’s limited playing time this year has disrupted his rhythm, affecting his performance levels.

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“So is he a player who can be available and have an impact in our squad? Yes – 100 per cent. But lately he simply has no rhythm, and he knows that himself. I think Jack gets better and better the more minutes he plays. He has the character to be the glue in a team, it is easy for youngsters to attach to him.”

Thomas Tuchel also addressed recent reports regarding Jack Grealish’s off-field activities, after the Manchester City midfielder was pictured socializing at a pub in East Manchester last week. While Pep Guardiola had downplayed the incident, stating that he only assesses his players based on their performances in training and on the pitch, Tuchel acknowledged the matter and shared his views on the same.

“Of course, it’s not ideal if he is in the newspapers and out there in public, but it is maybe not just his fault,” Tuchel said.

“Everyone out there has a phone in his pocket, these guys are famous, this can happen. It’s not ideal, we want to have him more calm, but this is not the reason for not picking him.”

Thomas Tuchel also revealed about his plans to travel to Saudi Arabia in the coming weeks to personally meet with Ivan Toney and watch him play live. The Brentford striker, who recently completed a high-profile move to the Saudi Pro League, remains very much in Tuchel’s plans for future England squads despite his absence from the current squad.

Jack Grealish

Manchester City

Thomas Tuchel

Abhinav Goel

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I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.