‘I don’t think it’s any secret’ – Grealish opens up on maiden Man City season, reveals top priority

Jack Grealish admits he underestimated the challenge of playing for such a big club as Manchester City and confessed that he is eager to score more goals.

The 26-year-old made the switch from Aston Villa to the Etihad Stadium last summer. The Citizens paid £100m for the talented forward – a British transfer record. Grealish had been the main man at Villa Park for many years, with 32 goals from 213 appearances in all competitions.

And there were those who questioned the price tag after Pep Guardiola finally got his man. It has been an up-and-down campaign for the England star to date.

He has bagged just two Premier League goals from 17 starts and 19 appearances. He has four in all competitions but the jury is still out on whether the former Notts County loan man was worth the money.

With the majority of the season now behind him, the ex-Republic of Ireland Under-21 star has opened up about life at City. And it seems as though Grealish was unprepared for all that comes with joining such a high-profile club.

“It’s been a lot more difficult than I thought it would be in terms of on the pitch and off the pitch, moving to a new city and so on,” he told the club’s official website.

“It’s been different, but I knew that it was going to be like that. I knew that it was going to be me stepping out of my comfort zone, but I’ve enjoyed it.”

While not prolific in front of goal, Grealish chipped in with some important goals for Villa. But despite a lack of productivity with the north-west giants, he is happy with his overall contribution.

“I don’t think it’s any secret to anyone that I would love to have scored more and assisted more this season, but I feel like I’ve been playing well, even when I haven’t been scoring or assisting,”