Jack Grealish opens up about experiencing “the toughest year” of his life, despite celebrating the birth of his first daughter with his girlfriend, Sasha. He acknowledges facing challenges both on and off the pitch, following his recent exclusion from Manchester City’s lineup.
Jack Grealish has admitted that 2024 was “the most challenging year” of his life.
Despite being part of Manchester City’s historic fourth consecutive Premier League title-winning squad, the former Aston Villa captain struggled for game time, starting just 10 league matches last season. His omission from England’s Euro 2024 squad added to his difficulties.
Grealish also experienced a major personal milestone, becoming a father for the first time in October when his partner, Sasha Attwood, gave birth to their daughter, Mila Rose. However, this season, he has continued to play a limited role under Pep Guardiola.
On Saturday, he completed 90 minutes for only the fourth time since October, helping City edge past Leyton Orient in the FA Cup. Speaking after the 2-1 win, Grealish reflected on a tough year, admitting, “Last year was strange—my daughter was born, which was amazing, but aside from that, it was probably the hardest year of my life, both on and off the pitch.”
Looking ahead, he hopes for a fresh start in 2025: “I feel like in my last few games—against Palace, Salford, and Orient—I’ve been trying to contribute more with goals and assists. I want to play regularly again, get into a rhythm, and build consistency, like I had a couple of years ago. Coming in and out of the team has been tough, but I’ll keep working hard in training and hopefully get more opportunities.”
Most of his appearances this season have come in cup competitions, and with City 15 points behind the Premier League leaders, those tournaments have become their key focus. Next, Grealish and his teammates face Real Madrid in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League playoff, a crucial clash after both sides finished outside the top eight in the league phase.
Grealish acknowledged the rapid shift in competition levels, saying, “That’s the beauty of football—we go from playing Leyton Orient on Saturday to facing Real Madrid on Tuesday.”
Reflecting on the FA Cup tie, he praised Orient’s performance: “A lot of credit goes to them—they were outstanding. Their fans and keeper were brilliant, and I love playing at grounds like this. Coming up through the ranks, it takes me back to m
y childhood.”
