Grealish dedicates his goal in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Leicester City to late brother

LONDON – Manchester City star Jack Grealish dedicated his long-awaited goal in the 2-0 win against Leicester City on April 2 to his late brother.

The 29-year-old netted from close range in the second minute at the Etihad Stadium, scoring in the English Premier League for the first time in 16 months.

The England winger marked his first league start since last December by helping City move back into fourth place as they chase Champions League qualification to salvage a dismal season.

It came on the 25th anniversary of the death of his younger brother Keelan, who died at the age of just nine months.

“This day is always hard in the family, but I was happy to score,” Grealish said.

“My mum and dad were here. This day is always difficult in the family. So to score and to win was brilliant.”

Grealish has struggled for regular action this season due to fitness and form issues, losing his place to Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden and Savinho.

But manager Pep Guardiola has been impressed with the way he has handled his issues.

“Jack is an incredible human being in terms of gestures and he’s incredibly generous,” he said.

“I didn’t know that. I can’t imagine how tough it was, but to be with his mum and dad, his sister and all the family, it’s good.

“He scored a goal and made a good game. I’m happy for him. I know it’s not easy when you don’t play quite regularly.”

On the match, Guardiola added: “It wasn’t easy with 10 players behind the ball in the box and we missed the third goal to be more relaxed.

“But we didn’t concede anything... and I’m pleased for a good performance.”

Omar Marmoush added the second goal after 29 minutes and City eased through the remainder of the game to push second-from-bottom Leicester, who remain 12 points from safety, closer to relegation.

The Foxes slipped to a seventh straight EPL loss without scoring a goal, on another dire night in which they did not even manage a shot on target.

Their expected goals figure of 0.02 is the lowest of any team this season.

“Not scoring, losing games, so the bad start is extra hard to recover from,” Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy told SkySports. “The situation we’re in, only by hard work can we get out.

“The gap is huge now, it’s a challenge. Nevertheless, we have eight games to play and we have to represent ourselves in the best possible way.”

Guardiola also offered clarification on the length of Erling Haaland’s absence, after the Norwegian suffered an ankle injury in the 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final win at Bournemouth on March 30.

The striker has since received specialist treatment from Dr Ramon Cugat in Barcelona.

“He saw him and we expect five to six weeks,” Guardiola said.

Haaland responded to his injury on Instagram on April 2, posting a message that read: “I’ll be back” – a quote made famous by Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character in the Terminator movies – accompanied by a flexed biceps emoji.

The post also featured a photo of the 24-year-old with his left foot in a protective boot and each arm raised holding up a crutch.
AFP, REUTERS