Jack Grealish is so fired up this pre-season that he bolted straight back into Manchester City’s dressing room to check the footage of refereeing decisions in Wednesday’s friendly.
‘Friendly’ is a stretch, because Club America took great pleasure in booting Grealish around the NRG Stadium’s cabbage patch. With that, and the Mexican fans jeering his every touch, Grealish must have felt right at home.
He relishes playing the villain, thrives off rough contact from markers and, in that sense, this 2-1 victory was perfect preparation. Even so, the forward came away from an encouraging display miffed that decisions went against him — much like the majority of his debut year at City.