Michael Owen has told the Aston Villa section of supporters who booed Jack Grealish on Saturday to “hang their heads in shame”.
Grealish left the club for Manchester City for £100m in 2021 and over the weekend returned to Villa Park in a 2-1 defeat.
A chorus of boos rang out every time he got a touch and at the end the winger reacted by raising three fingers to indicate the Premier League titles he won under Pep Guardiola.
Grealish joined Villa at the age of six and, barring a 2013-14 loan at Notts County, spent 19 years at the club he supports, helping them win promotion and reach the finals of both domestic cups in 213 appearances. before breaking the British transfer. record.
Owen said he felt “bad to the bottom of my stomach” about the boos in an impassioned 711-word defense of the Englishman published in X on Sunday. It is a fate he endured after leaving Liverpool during his own playing career.
“I often hear or see things in football that make my blood boil. Most people will probably feel the same way at some point. I guess that’s pretty natural when you care passionately about something, or in my case, when it’s something that has consumed your entire life.
Jack Grealish being booed by Manchester City fans left Michael Owen ‘sick to his stomach’
The winger was booed every time he touched the ball at Villa Park and Manchester City lost 2-1.
Michael Owen told responsible Villa supporters section to ‘hang their heads in shame’
‘The current capitulation of reigning champions Manchester City is enough of a story to fill later pages and improvise radio stations across the country. But there was another story at Villa Park yesterday that really left me with a sick feeling deep in my stomach.
Of course, I don’t like to put a group of people in the same bag. I have lived a life where my peers and I have been stereotyped and it is quite annoying. There will always be kind, honest, generous, respectful and attentive people in all walks of life, just as there will be unpleasant, jealous, resentful and bitter people. Your job or your place of origin do not necessarily make you fall into a certain category.
‘But for those Villa fans who booed Jack Grealish yesterday, you fall into the second category and should hang your heads in shame.
‘Here is a boy who went through YOUR academy. He supported La Villa all his life and no doubt still does. He single-handedly dragged YOUR team back to the Premier League when you were average at best. He kept you awake and, in retrospect, showed you ten times more loyalty than you’re showing him now. He was rarely injured and produced Man of the Match performances on a regular basis. He cost you nothing, gave you an incredible service and made YOUR club over £100 million when he left.
‘I don’t know Jack; I interviewed him a couple of times and that’s it. I also don’t usually defend footballers simply because I was one too. But Jack’s story is as perfect as it gets.
‘He joined his local club and rose through the ranks from a six-year-old to club captain. He has played over 200 games for the club and has made his mark as one of the greatest players to ever wear the famous blue and burgundy shirt.
“After gaining promotion and captaining the club, he certainly did more than his share to turn his team into a respectable and established Premier League side that arguably formed the basis of how the club is viewed today. .
“Then he moved on to one of the best teams in the world, one that has won absolutely everything and will go down in history as one of the best teams to ever step onto a football field. Who knows what will come next, but Jack could retire tomorrow and will have had a career that most footballers can only dream of.
Grealish wanted to remember his achievements with Manchester City to those who booed him from the Villa Park stands.
He spoke to the stewards after the final whistle after being attacked by fans throughout the match.
It was not a happy return for the 29-year-old and he suffered a defeat with City.
‘I’ve said it many times but I’ll say it again. Footballers are generally amateurs before signing their first professional contract and when they retire they become amateurs again. In between is a job!
“Fans who never become footballers can happily declare their undying love for any particular team and that’s absolutely brilliant.”
“Footballers, on the other hand, have limited playing time and clearly want to be as successful as possible in that short time between the first and last contract.
“It is impossible for 99% of players to stay on their team for their entire career because if they are good players the best teams will want to sign them and if they are not good players they will be shown the exit door quite quickly.”
“When the fans see their team going through a bad patch, they all clamor for the club to buy new players. When a new player is signed, do the fans of the new club call him Judas and boo him for giving up what could easily be have been the club of their childhood? Of course not; they sing their name and welcome them with open arms.
‘Why then is it so different when it’s the other way around?
“In Jack’s case, he is and always will be very proud of where he comes from, so it must be heartbreaking for him to have to endure the pathetic and stupid boos he had to hear yesterday.”
Grealish was part of the historic Catalan team that won the treble in 2023, adding to his list of accolades, but he has been struggling two seasons later.
Grealish is in the middle of a scoring drought at a difficult time for the serial winners.
Coach Pep Guardiola is experiencing the worst streak of his career on the bench
The England international has failed to score in club colors in his last 45 games and was unable to help his team improve their lackluster form on Saturday.
The hosts scored first at home, thanks to an early goal from Jhon Durán in the first 20 minutes, and were able to double their lead thanks to Manchester City academy graduate Morgan Rogers in the second half.
Phil Foden sparked hopes of a further comeback two minutes into added time, but Guardiola’s team could not find an equalizer and were doomed to their ninth defeat in their last 12 games.
Grealish’s temper had flared early in the match when the 29-year-old was involved in a half-time altercation with Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez.
As the game reached the halfway point, Grealish could be seen protesting the lack of stoppage time in the first half.
Then, as both teams left the field, the England international could be seen exchanging words with his former teammate Martínez.
Erling Haaland acted as peacemaker, standing between the two men as they remained animated as they left the field.
The conversation continued in the tunnel and referee Peter Bankes subsequently reprimanded the Argentine for his part in the incident.