Pep Guardiola breaks silence on Jack Grealish as Man City boss makes telling admission following England star’s Newcastle bender

Pep Guardiola claimed he cannot control the private lives of Manchester City‘s players after Jack Grealish’s expedition on a day off but admitted the winger is struggling for rhythm.

Grealish frequented a pub in Gorton, two miles from the Etihad Stadium, before travelling to a social club on Wearside and finishing a night in Newcastle on Sunday.

The 29-year-old, who put hundreds of pounds behind the bars for punters, has not started a Premier League for over two months – an unused substitute in five of seven games he has been available for.

‘They know what they have to do,’ Guardiola said. ‘They have private lives to do whatever they want. I’m not going to control what they do in their private life.

‘I judge what I see on the pitch, the training sessions and the performances in the game. That’s where I judge the players.

‘I want Jack at his best, of course, but he had setbacks and didn’t play but that was sometimes for the injuries, he could not get the rhythm that you need for being ready every three days.’

Manchester City star Grealish was pictured leaving a Newcastle pub on Sunday night 

The England star had spent the evening at the North Biddick Social Club near Sunderland

Guardiola also revealed whether it was likely that Grealish would leave the club in the summer

Asked if Grealish could leave in the summer transfer window, Guardiola said: ‘He is a player for Man City. What will happen? I don’t know what is going to happen.

‘What happens in terms of Jack, in terms of everyone, will be treated at the end of the season. But now we are playing for many important things for the club.’

City go to Nottingham Forest on Saturday knowing victory will move them into third and four points behind Arsenal before their trip to Manchester United.

Guardiola confirmed that Nathan Ake is joining John Stones and Manuel Akanji on the sidelines until at least May after ankle surgery – leaving City with three central defenders for the remainder of the season.

The Catalan wants to use the Club World Cup in June as an extended holiday after a trying year pockmarked by constant injury problems.

‘They told me the golf courses are really nice in America,’ Guardiola said. ‘If my back allows it, I’ll play absolutely.

‘I draw the ball really well. I have a problem with putting but I’ll practice. We are going to try to enjoy that experience, after 11 months I am not thinking about bringing the players there to spend hours in their room thinking about the next game.

‘They are going to train but I will let them be free. Of course they have to behave well or they will be in trouble but you have to have fun and play the games as best as possible for this new experience.’