JACK GREALISH has admitted he “didn’t help himself” with his partying antics at Manchester City.
The playmaker, 30, was exiled from Pep Guardiola’s squad before being shipped out on loan during the summer.
Although he played an important role in City’s treble-winning season, and is now enjoying a career revival at Everton, he still left the Etihad as a £100million flop.
And Grealish accepts that some of his boozy nights on the town didn’t help his image.
He told Sky Sports: “People go, ‘he likes to go out, he likes to party’ – and I do.
“I want to be able to live my life and enjoy myself, but obviously there’s a time and a place to do that.
“Sometimes, I’ll be honest with you, I probably haven’t picked the right times.
“At City, I didn’t help myself at times, I’ll openly say that – but then I don’t think it was all down to that.”
Having been just a cog in Guardiola’s winning machine, Grealish is now relishing his status as an Everton fan favourite.
That, he says, is good for him on and off the pitch.
The former Aston Villa man explained: “I’m at my best when I feel loved.
“You know, I’m quite vulnerable off the pitch and I wanted to go somewhere to just feel the love again and just wake up with a smile on my face and want to play again.”
Grealish has also relished being given more responsibility by manager David Moyes.
The attacker has revealed that the former West Ham boss has told him to be the star in the side.
He added: “I don’t mean this in an arrogant way but I do like it when managers say, ‘you’re the footballer, go and do what you want to do’.
“I’d rather someone just be like, ‘when you get the ball Jack, just go and play’. That’s what he says to me.
“Obviously, you have your jobs.
“You have roles to do without the ball and set pieces, but he says to me, ‘when you get the ball just go and do what you want to do’.”
Grealish will hope to put a smile on Moyes’ face when they take on the Hammers on Monday night.
The Scotsman will be looking to get one over his old employers at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
He will be up against Nuno Espirito Santo, who will take to the dugout for the first time as Hammers boss.
The former Nottingham Forest chief was appointed as the replacement for Graham Potter, who was sacked on Saturday morning.
Grealish will also be keeping an eye on October 18 as he will have to watch from the stands as the Toffees take on City at the Etihad.
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