Man City star Grealish opens up on his 'difficult' season under Guardiola

Jack Grealish admits that this season at Manchester City has been 'difficult' - but urged he is still playing with 'confidence' despite struggling for form ahead of his side's Premier League title run-in.

The England star, who played a pivotal role during City's Treble-winning heroics last campaign, has endured a significant reduction in game time this season after undergoing a barren stint in front of goal and suffering from a series of injuries.

Grealish has only started nine of City's 33 league matches this term, significantly fewer than his 23 starts last campaign, but insists he is still 'playing with confidence' as Pep Guardiola's side push for a record fourth successive Premier League title.

'It's been difficult (this season),' he told The Athletic. 'Especially on the back of last year, I had such a good season. I was playing a lot and was one of the main players in the team and playing in all the important games.

'This year at the start of the season I had a dead leg which kept me out for a month and then I didn't play too often. I don't think my form was the best and I wasn't playing with a lot of confidence. In the new year, I had a few injuries again as well with my groin.

'Recently, obviously I haven't scored yet, but I feel good, I feel fit and I feel like I'm playing with good confidence. Hopefully, I can bring that into the end of the season.'

Despite not playing frequently in the Premier League, Grealish started all eight of Manchester City's Champions League games and was hooked off on the hour mark during the club's bitter penalty shootout defeat by Real Madrid in the quarter-finals on Wednesday night.

When asked what has caused his loss of confidence earlier in the season, Grealish replied: 'I don't know. I