Grealish Reacts To ‘Battle’ With Dani Carvajal After Man City Tie 1-1 With Real Madrid

Jack Grealish acknowledged that his run-ins with Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal resulted in physical issues during City’s Champions League semi-final first leg versus Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernebeau on Tuesday night.

Kevin de Bruyne’s second-half thunderbolt cancelled out Vinicius Jnr’s equally spectacular first half goal, resulting in a 1-1 draw that will be carried over to the Etihad Stadium next week.

But despite the fluid football on display, there was no paucity of controversy, with the former Aston Villa player Grealish at the center of an explosive incident during his game-long battle with Carvajal.

While attempting to retrieve a long ball down the left flank, the midfielder was shoved in the back by the Madrid left back Carvajal, causing him to collide with a series of billboards.

The footballer reacted aggressively, making contact with Carvajal’s arm, causing his opponent to fall to the ground holding his face.

Grealish Enjoyed ‘Good Battle’ With Dani Carvajal

However, the 27-year-old appeared to have enjoyed the battle with the European champions and the veteran defender Carvajal by his comments after the game.

Still, Grealish acknowledged for the first time that the nature of the competition hindered him in both of his legs in terms of tiredness.

“It’s difficult. They let us have the first pass a few times and then had a high press,” he told BT Sport following the result.

“Playing against Carvajal, I can’t count the amount of people who told me before you don’t know what it’s going to be like,” Grealish said.

“Good battle, I really enjoyed it. I am tired. I’ve never had cramp before but I had it in both calves,” he explained.

“I loved it, man. You can have a few nerves but these are the nights you play football for and dream of,” he added.

“At a stadium and a game like this, it’s like a dream come true.”

Grealish: ‘At The Etihad We Feel Unstoppable’

The matchup now appears evenly poised, but England international Grealish argued that City’s present home form means they will be full of confidence on Wednesday at 8 p.m, when they host Real.

“At the Etihad, we feel unstoppable there,” he explained.

“We came here to try to win, but it shows our character to go a goal down in a place like this,” the Birmingham-born winger said.

“In the end I think it was a fair result. They had their chances, we had a few. I really enjoyed it.”

“I had a text from my mum before the game saying ‘these are the nights you dreamed of as a kid.’ Everyone in the world was watching. Sometimes you pinch yourself. This is the life, innit.”