“I’m the happiest man on the planet!” – Pep Guardiola lauds Manchester City pair after FA Cup win | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has praised Kevin De Bruyne and Jack Grealish after Manchester City’s 3-1 comeback victory over Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday.

The Etihad Stadium side booked their place in the quarter-final stage of the competition after a brace from Nico O’Reilly turned the game on its head following Argyle’s opener, with Kevin De Bruyne putting the tie to bed in the closing minutes from Erling Haaland’s cross.

Guardiola has looked beyond De Bruyne for line-ups in key Premier League and Champions League games in the last month-and-a-half, with the 33-year-old not playing in the play-off return leg against Real Madrid, and only making the bench against Arsenal and Tottenham.

Jack Grealish has also faced a difficult season and has once again failed to replicate the form that made him so integral to Pep Guardiola during Manchester City’s historic 2022/23 treble run-in.

Despite having two years remaining on his contract, the £100 million signing from 2021 faces an uncertain future and Guardiola has reason to start losing patience with the England international over his form and lack of availability in the last 18 months.

However, despite the cloud of uncertainty surrounding De Bruyne and Grealish ahead of what is expected to be a significant squad rebuild in the summer, the duo delivered and delighted their manager by starring and completing 90 minutes in City’s FA Cup win over Argyle.

Speaking during a post-match interview, Pep Guardiola said on De Bruyne, “He has been one of the top-three, five best players in the whole history of Manchester City – without a doubt.

“Every time he performs well, I’m the happiest man on the planet! He gave me many, many things, to the team and me.”

Jack Grealish has suffered another injury-riddled season and was evidently gutted when he limped off in the opening leg of Manchester City’s Champions League play-off against Real Madrid in February.

“Jack Grealish played really, really good, and Kevin De Bruyne as well – there were very, very positive things and happy to see us again in the last best eight teams in the FA Cup,” Guardiola admitted.

It remains to be seen if either of Kevin De Bruyne or Jack Grealish will make the cut when Pep Guardiola names his starting eleven for Manchester City’s upcoming top-four league clash against Nottingham Forest next weekend.