Pep Guardiola sends warning to Jack Grealish as he tells Man City star to fight for his future and challenge three players for his place in the team

Pep Guardiola has told Jack Grealish it is time to stand up and fight for his Manchester City future.

Grealish impressed his manager against Leyton Orient on Saturday, creating the winning goal for Kevin de Bruyne as the Premier League champions fought back from behind to win 2-1 against third tier opposition and move into the fifth round of the FA Cup.

It was his first start since the previous round when he scored in an eight-goal romp against Salford, but Guardiola is not so easy to satisfy as he tries to resurrect the season, starting with a Champions League playoff against Real Madrid on Tuesday.

‘I want much more,’ said City boss Guardiola, challenging Grealish to compete with Savinho, Jeremy Doku and Phil Foden for a place in his team. ‘This is the level I would like to see from Jack. But it has not been like that.

‘Clubs bring new players in every season. I don’t have the same squad as when I arrived nine years ago, or when we won the Treble or Quadruple or the 100 points. We have four, five, six players, not more than that. It’s normal.

‘Players have to understand that. No new contract makes a player better, it’s competition in the locker room and on the pitch that makes the players better. They have to feel that.

Guardiola has insisted that Grealish has to challenge three players for his place in the team

Grealish must fight with Jeremy Doku (L), Savinho (C) and Phil Foden (R) for a starting spot

‘You have to fight with Savinho, the impact he has had this season is amazing. Jeremy Doku is incredible, a top player as well. Phil Foden can play on the left as well, that’s the point. It’s never against a player from my point of view. It’s OK, accept the challenge, prove you are the best.’

At Orient, Guardiola thought he saw flickers of fire from Grealish. He liked the determination he saw to silence the home crowd when they taunted the England international in the first half.

He spoke admiringly of him as ‘a player from the street’ in an age when many players were ‘academic’ in the sense they had technical qualities and tactical ability to follow instructions from managers. And he applauded his desire to prove he deserved to be back in City team.

‘He is a fighter,’ said Guardiola. ‘I saw that glimpse: I want to rebel. I want to show the manager how wrong he is. I love that. It had to be. In the end it’s about performance. Deliver assists, deliver goals.

‘Omar Marmoush by the end had four chances. He did not score but he was there, his movement created the chances. Phil all the time provokes. Kevin scored. This is what defines us a little bit as a team.’

Grealish has a goal and three assists from two FA Cup ties against lower league opposition, but you are entitled expect more from a player signed for £100million. ‘The season still is open,’ said Guardiola. ‘I’m happy with the performance he gave.’