Pep Guardiola says Manchester City “need” Jack Grealish and has asked him to rediscover his old form.
The 28-year-old played a key role for City in all competitions last season en route to their historic treble.
However, Grealish His form has dipped in the current campaign and he has made just seven Premier League starts.
He has also not featured in his last three league games, and his boss now wants him to return to his best.
When asked what he wants to see from the former Aston Villa player, Guardiola He said: “Hopefully the impact he had last season depends on him.
“I try to be fair in my decisions, he played a lot of minutes last season and this season maybe less at the beginning. It's the same player, the same coach, the same way we want to play, the same, nothing has changed.
“The way you play is the difference and we need it. I said from day one that we need him to have a special quality for our team. We need him, it depends on him. Hopefully he can play three good games in the last few months.”
“I can't play three or four games in a row to change the rhythm, they have to pick up the pace to play 20 minutes, 90 minutes at a high level, the people, the team.
“The team does not wait, there are ups and downs, last season there were ups and downs all the time and this time there are ups and downs, there is a reason. The same charming person, the same charming boy, the same qualities and skills.
“As the years go by, we get better at what we want, what we need. They don't have to convince me, they have to convince themselves that they deserve to play.”
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Grealish has scored just three goals and assisted two others in 26 appearances this season.
Jeremy Doku has been the preferred option on the left wing, although Grealish has started all six of his Champions League games.
Guardiola will need his £100million man for the remaining months of the season as they look to compete on all fronts once again.
City are one point behind leaders Liverpool in the Premier League and will face Luton Town in the fifth round of the FA Cup. live on talkSPORT.
