JACK GREALISH has certainly put his summer break to good use.
Manchester City’s record signing enhanced his ‘Jack the Lad’ reputation – posting pictures of himself partying in Ibiza and Las Vegas with his mates.
But the England ace also spent time preparing for what is a huge second season for him at the Etihad.
And the 26-year-old is raring to go – looking lean and hungry out here on City’s pre-season just a couple of weeks before the big kick-off.
The former Aston Villa skipper knows the scrutiny will always be on him more than his team-mates following his £100 million move to City last summer.
While he ended the campaign with a Premier League title medal in his pocket, there was a feeling he could have done more in terms of goals and assists.
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So he will be expected to produce for both his club and country in the next few months.
His critics wonder whether posting pictures of himself partying during the off season is the best way to impress Pep Guardiola.
But Grealish said: “Obviously I'm enjoying myself. I went to Ibiza after we won the league, and then I went to Vegas after my England trip.
“Then apart from that, I was away with my girlfriend, working hard and trying to get back training.
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“I was getting a lot of stick off the lads for posting too many training photos on my Instagram.
“I think it's just one of them: when I do something, partying or whatever, it's going to get picked up on more than others.
“I've seen a lot of people in Ibiza and Vegas, but they didn't get nowhere near what I got.”
As the most expensive footballer in British history, Grealish accepts the spotlight will always be on him.
He added: “People don’t really want to see you training hard after the season, they want to see all the other stuff – the controversial type of stuff.
“I’ve just tried to get used to that now. It was difficult earlier on in my career but I’ve had to get used to it.
“I knew that coming to one of the biggest clubs in the world, and the best club in England, that I was going to get more of that. I’ve had to deal with it.
“Others will get it I suppose – Erling Haaland, Kalvin Phillips. It’s part and parcel of playing for a massive club.
“But you’ve got to keep smiling, haven’t you?”
Grealish was the centre of attention during City’s first pre-season friendly – a 2-1 win over Club America here on Thursday.
He felt he should have had an early penalty and was involved in a heated exchange with legendary Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa.
From then on his every touch was booed by the opposition fans – while the rest of the game had a bit of needle.
He could have scored a couple of goals – and also felt he should have had two more penalties but his overall display would have delighted Guardiola.
Grealish insists he does not mind the hatred from opposing fans – even when he is thousands of miles from home – as it only serves to fire him up.
The Three Lions ace said: “I had a few kicks, but it's all obviously part and parcel of the game. I like it.
“Joao Cancelo just said to me then,’why do you like it?’ and I said, I don't know.
“I feel like I was more like that at Villa, it gets me going and stuff, so I don't mind it at all.
“I get it at a lot of places now. I feel like I've just got to embrace it and prove them wrong.”
Kevin de Bruyne scored both goals for City – while Grealish was disappointed not to have something to show for his encouraging display.
He added: “I obviously don't mind being kicked, but I've just watched them back in there and there were definitely two penalties.
“I said to the ref ‘if it's not a penalty then surely you have to book me?’. He said there was contact and I said ‘how's it not a penalty then?!’
“He said 'there's just not enough' – but there definitely was.”
“We knew it was going to be a tough game, an aggressive game. We knew that they were probably going to be fitter than us, it's our first game.
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“We've only been training for two weeks. It was a good test for us and we have another strong test on Saturday.”
City fly on to Green Bay on Friday ready to face Bayern Munich at Lambeau Field – home of the Packers – in the early hours of Sunday.
That will be their final friendly before they face Liverpool in the Community Shield at Leicester’s King Power Stadium on August 30.
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