Man City squad give Grealish new nickname after Atleti ‘fears’

Manchester City players have given Jack Grealish a new nickname and crowned an unsung hero from their explosive game against Atletico Madrid.

Having won the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final 1-0 at home to Atletico, Manchester City went into the second match at the Wanda Metropolitano in little doubt as to what they would face.

Atletico had a player sent off and are expected to face UEFA action after an on-pitch melee towards the end of the goalless draw continued into the tunnel after the final whistle.

Manchester City were battered and bruised throughout but had anticipated such rough treatment in the build-up, with Jack Grealish the likely target.

The 26-year-old was fouled five times in 22 substitute minutes by Atletico players at the Etihad but was not risked in the away leg because of ‘genuine fears for his safety’.

The Daily Telegraph report that Manchester City felt Grealish ‘could be at risk of injury’ after being ‘aggressively targeted’ the previous week, which is likely why Pep Guardiola decided not to risk him.

The £100m summer signing was still involved in the fracas, however, calling Stefan Savic a “c***” when the Atleti centre-half had attempted to headbutt Raheem Sterling.

Some teammates have since nicknamed him ‘Peaky Jack’, while Sterling ‘also drew praise’ for not reacting to Savic’s provocation.

CITY & ATHLETICO BEEF

Savic & Grealish have words entering the tunnel and Kyle Walker & Scott Carson weren't having any form of aggro from Athletico. #mcfc #AthleticoMadrid #UCL pic.twitter.com/TMtNOrf4NF

— Pundit Jay (@pundit_jay) April 14, 2022

The other Manchester City player to emerge with the most credit was Oleksandr Zinchenko, another unused substitute who inserted himself into the