Dean Smith has quipped how Jack Grealish will be struggling to break into his Aston Villa side after a statement-like performance at Elland Road without him. Speaking after Villa’s 1-0 win at Leeds United, Smith was asked about Grealish potentially struggling to break back into his starting XI.
Dean Smith said: “Yeah, I’m not sure Jack would struggle getting into too many teams, to be honest! Listen, it’s nice to win a game without Jack in the team because, as I said, there was a lot made out of us not winning a Premier League game without Jack but, as I said, they were against Liverpool who went top of the league, Leicester who went second and Wolves who went seventh. They weren’t give-me games, that’s for sure, and Jack would have been the first cheering that win on from home today.”
Dean Smith spoke of his annoyance at being branded a one-man team ahead of the visit to Leeds, and said of that statement: “It’s been an all-round team performance this season and we’ve probably talked about Jack less this season than we did last season. To still be talking about him shows the quality he’s got. He’s been at a super-high level this year and got into the England team and we want him back as soon as possible, such is the quality he is.”
On Villa’s fourth win from eight games,
Dean Smith commented: “The players deserve enormous credit because we restricted Leeds to few chances as we did tonight. We got our tactics right and, within the first 20 minutes, we went and pressed them as high as we could. We restricted the distance and space to play in which they’re good at. In the second half players took responsibility.”
Emi Martinez picked up a slight groin issue in the second half at Elland Road with Ezri Konsa taking his goal kicks. Providing an update on the Argentinian, Smith said: “I’m not sure what the latest is. He had a tight groin and he made out centre-backs take our goal kicks. I’ve been there, it’s a tough gig getting up the pitch from the six yard box late on so credit to them.”
