Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish says he copies Philippe Coutinho and is ‘desperate’ to go to Euro 2020
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Jack Grealish may have put management at Liverpool on high alert after revealing that he watches clips of Philippe Coutinho in his pomp at the Reds to improve as a player.
Grealish is one of the Premier League’s most exciting attacking midfielders on his day, renowned for his creativity, passing and dribbling with the ball.
But his improvement has not happened by accident, and the Aston Villa talisman said he looks to others to inspire him to get better.
Jack Grealish (L) has revealed he tries to copy ex-Liverpool attacker Philippe Coutinho (R)
The Aston Villa captain (R) also told Peter Crouch (L) that he watches Kevin de Bruyne as well
‘I watched videos of the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, and all these playmakers, you know, around the world, like (Philippe) Coutinho – clips of him from him when he was at Liverpool,’ Grealish told Peter Crouch in an interview for BT Sport.
‘I’ve worked on my final ball. I always watch clips of Coutinho from Liverpool – it was always the final pass that was perfect and that’s what I’ve tried to work on this season.’
Grealish has relished taking on the responsibility of Villa’s captaincy, and continues to go from strength to strength on the pitch. He has provided the second-most assists – 10 – in the Premier League this season, joint with de Bruyne and one behind Harry Kane.
He has already contributed six goals and pulls the strings at the heart of a transformed Villa side, who from barely escaping relegation last term now sit eighth in the league table.
Grealish (L) has been in outstanding form for Aston Villa this season, scoring six league goals
‘At the start of this season I wanted to get better goal involvements, which is 14, which I’ve beat already,’ Grealish said.
But his ultimate goal is to get into Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the Euros this summer and Grealish, who has five senior caps, revealed just how focused he is on achieving his aim.
‘I just want to get in the England team,’ he said bluntly.
‘I think about it all the time. There are so many good English players in those attacking areas. I’m desperate to go to the Euros.’
Southgate certainly isn’t lacking options in attack, though Crouch said Grealish is the man to beat.
Grealish has five England caps and says he is desperate to make it into the Euro 2020 squad
But he faces stiff competition from James Maddison (L), Phil Foden (C) and Jadon Sancho (R)
‘He’s a great lad,’ he said on BT Sport after the interview. ‘He plays with a smile on his face. He’s enjoying himself at the moment. He’s creating chances.
‘We’ve got an embarrassment of riches in that area. (James) Maddison is on fire, (Jadon) Sancho, (Phil) Foden. For me at the moment Grealish has got the shirt.
‘He’s aware of the fact that he’s bringing so many defenders towards him. He knows when the offload the pass at the right time. If he’s feeding (Marcus) Rashford, (Raheem) Sterling or Harry Kane, it’s a mouthwatering prospect.’
Rio Ferdinand, speaking alongside Crouch, said Grealish was central to England’s success at the Euros.
‘He’s the danger man. This guy is trouble on the pitch for opposing players. He has that awareness and that vision to bring others into the game.
‘Grealish is a creator, a goal-getter. England need him.’
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