VILLA PARK — It was the most frequent sight here in the first half: Jack Grealish plucking the ball out of the air down the left wing for Manchester City, who suffered their ninth defeat in 12.
Guardiola was perhaps hoping emotion could play a part, with Grealish making his first start at Aston Villa since leaving his boyhood club in 2021.
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Read MoreThe good was a cross that Josko Gvardiol arguably could have done better with, the bad was the backward passes, and the downright ugly was a shot so bad it went out for a throw-in.
It was a minor scuffle that only earned Martinez a booking – no surprise given the Argentine rushed over to cause nothing but bother – but a chance to get in Grealish’s head.
Then along came Kyle Walker. Arguably made the scapegoat these past few weeks, suddenly deemed too old and too slow, City’s club captain had appeared nonplussed by the fact he was dropped, dressed more like a spectator than a player eager to come on when warming up with his fellow substitutes before the match.
City had operated with a new-look back four, Stones starting alongside Manuel Akanji, Rico Lewis and Gvardiol in defence for the first time this season, mainly down to the injury absence of Ruben Dias.
Around Grealish, City offered little to nothing. Bernardo Silva was a passenger, while Phil Foden was everywhere and nowhere at the same time, going closest for City in the first half and scoring a late consolation – only due to a slip.
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Read MoreIt was the 64th minute that perhaps summed up Grealish’s afternoon. He had seen less of the ball after the break, but when he did on this occasion, his cross went straight into the side netting – not even a minute later, Villa scored their second.
This was the lack of desire that City had showed all match, so too the gaps Villa were not offering up themselves, and as chants of “you’re just a s— Morgan Rogers” were directed at their former captain, Grealish’s display ultimately typified his whole time at City.
Rogers, by the way, cost Villa an initial £8m – and only as much as £16m if all add-ons are met.
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