Graeme Souness tells ‘precious’ Jack Grealish he has no ‘vendetta’ against him – or Paul Pogba

Graeme Souness has told Jack Grealish to stop being ‘precious’ and insists he ‘has no problem with anyone’ after the England international came out on the Sports post columnist.

After Souness claimed Grealish was ‘not a quick learner’ and had not improved since his £100million move to Manchester City from Aston Villa last year, the attacker replied: ‘I don’t know what his problem is with me. He always says things about me.

‘I try not to read much of it. It’s hard when he’s on Sky Sports and sometimes it’s all over the training ground. He was clearly a great player and won a lot, but I don’t know what it is with what he says about me or what problem he has.”

Appear on talkSPORTSouness continued the war of words, but stated that he would probably get on well with Grealish if he met the 27-year-old.

The pundit also commented on criticism he has received in the past for being too hard on former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba.

“I have no problem with him, I have no problem with anyone,” Souness said. I have no problem with Jack at all. I think Jack is a good player, technically he is fantastic. I don’t think we can criticize the modern player.

“When I tried Paul Pogba it was because it was Man United and I think I was the first to label Pogba as an average player in our league. I think I was 100 percent proven at the end of the day.

Jack Grealish lashes out at Souness after the pundit criticized his performances for Manchester City

Souness also responded to criticism he received for describing Paul Pogba as ‘average’

“I’m sure if I met Jack, I’d really like Jack. I think he’s a cheeky guy. I want to go out with him too! But I just think the modern player isn’t very good at taking criticism. I think Jack, you listen to whoever you want to listen to.

‘I’m on talkSPORT with you guys, which I love. I have a column in the Daily Mail where I get the chance to express my opinion and I’m on Sky. I’ve been in the game for over 50 years, I think I’m entitled to an opinion.

‘I just feel… don’t be so precious! I have no vendetta against anyone at all. It’s my take on Jack Grealish right now. Really Jack doesn’t have to listen to me, he doesn’t have to listen to anyone. The only opinion that counts for Jack Grealish should be that of the manager.’

Grealish scored his first goal of the season against Wolves last weekend, having managed just three goals in the Premier League in his debut campaign as a City player.

Souness went on to criticize Grealish’s style of play, saying the attacker is holding the ball too long.

Souness praised Grealish’s dribbling ability, but thinks he’s holding the ball too long

“He has a dribbling skill that very few people have and that kind of skill puts you on the edge of your seat. But you have to deliver at the end. It’s not just about dribbling past one, two and then giving it away when you try to beat the third.

“If you’re on a team and you have two strikers, the other nine are just porters. They’re there to serve the two guys who play up front, they’re the ones who score the goals, get points in the bag and win the games for you.

“Everyone on the team is there to serve them. The best way to serve them is to give them the ball as quickly and accurately as possible. Don’t dwell on it unnecessarily, don’t be smart if you don’t have to. That’s football in a nutshell.

I can’t believe a coach anywhere will tell his players to hold the ball as long as possible. Anywhere, anytime in the history of the professional game. The best pass in football is the first time pass.’