Jack Grealish has admitted that a challenge from Leeds United captain, Liam Cooper, left him with strapping on his ankle and lucky to avoid serious injury.  

Leeds and Aston Villa played out a feisty 1-1 draw back in April despite both sides heading for the Championship’s play-offs, which Villa would, of course, go on to win.

Despite the fact the game was something of a ‘dead-rubber’, Grealish was on the receiving end of some heavy treatment from Leeds, with Kalvin Phillips man-marking him.

“He (Kalvin Phillips) told me after the game that all he wanted to do was stop me,” Grealish told The Athletic. “It doesn’t bother me. I actually like getting kicked.”

Despite Phillips being the man to target Grealish, it was actually a challenge from Leeds’ skipper that almost caused the midfielder a serious problem heading into the play-offs.

“But, to be honest, I hated that Leeds game,” Grealish continued. “For some reason the fans hate me up there.” 

“It was the worst tackle (Cooper) I’ve ever had on me, even if it probably wasn’t even a foul. When I say the worst tackle, I mean… I’m just lucky I’ve got flexible ankles. The doctor was saying to me that any other player would have broken their ankle after that challenge.

“He wins the ball but if you watch what happens after, he comes through me and takes me out. I’m so lucky not to be seriously injured.

“I had to go to the PFA Awards that night all strapped up. I certainly got away with one there.”

That was just one of many flashpoints that afternoon, with Cooper working his way into the book for the challenge on Grealish.

Mateusz Klich would open the scoring for Leeds, after the Whites refused to put the ball out of play despite Jonathan Kodjia going down injured.

After a period of confrontation between both sets of players and Anwar El Ghazi’s red card, Marcelo Bielsa opted to let Albert Adomah run the ball into the Leeds goal unguarded to equalise as a show of good will.

The Verdict

Grealish gets this heavy treatment and has done throughout his entire career.

Leeds were no different last season and Cooper’s challenge was heavy, but as the midfielder states, it was fair.

The yellow card wasn’t deserved, but Grealish clearly felt the effects of it.

Thoughts? Let us know!