Jack Grealish has no good word for Ashley Preece, the journalist who wrote a critical piece about him in the Birmingham Mail. Aston Villa club watcher accuses Grealish in his story of ‘disrespectful behaviour’ following an interview that gave Manchester City purchase ITV. Grealish lashes out hard on Twitter.
In the run-up to England’s game against Hungary (4-0) Grealish was interviewed by journalist Gabriel Clarke. Preece writes in his response to that interview that Grealish presented himself as ‘arrogant’ in the conversation. Clarke asked Grealish if he ever expected a club to put the £100million escape clause on the table. “Maybe yes. That’s why that clause was in my contract,” Grealish said.
That answer went down the wrong way with Preece. “A total lack of respect towards Aston Villa Football Club,” said the club watcher. “At that interview I got the feeling that Grealish was thinking: I couldn’t wait to leave.” Eleven months ago, he signed a new contract with Villa and said he believes in the project. Was he jealous of guys like Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Mason Mount?”
The answer to another question from Clarke also did not sit well with Preece. Grealish was asked if he has become a better footballer since his move to City. “Yes, one hundred percent”, responded the England international. “You pick up things from certain players. Everyone is an international at a top country,” said Grealish, who stated that his own level has risen as a result. According to Preece, that answer is a kick towards his former teammates.
This is the worst and most one sided article I’ve ever seen.. Classless? jealous? Couldn’t wait to get out? Arrogance? How exactly? I’ve been a villa fan my whole life and still am. The thing is you don’t understand what goes on in the real football world.
— Jack Grealish (@JackGrealish) September 3, 2021
“There was just no affection for Villa, the club he was in love with, in his first interview since he left. It just stunk like: Villa is not good enough for me, I’m better than that,” said Preece, calling Grealish’s interview a shock. “The body language, the quotes. It lacked class and class is something you would always associate with Grealish.”
Grealish reacted furiously to the article on Twitter: “This is the worst and most one-sided piece I have ever read,” he writes. “No class? Jealousy? Couldn’t wait to leave? Arrogance? How exactly? I have been a Villa fan all my life and I still am. The thing is you don’t understand how the football world works.”