Moyes’ mixed feelings on Grealish admiration

‘PLAYERS USED TO NOT LIKE ME, SAYS BLUES BOSS

- By JOE THOMAS

Jack Grealish (right) celebrates with Everton manager David Moyes

(DAVID HORTON/ CAMERASPORT)

DAVID Moyes joked he was not sure whether or not to be pleased over Jack Grealish’s claim he loved the Blues boss “to pieces”.

Everton's match winner was full of praise for the Scot in the immediate aftermath of his starring role in the 1-0 win at Bournemouth. When Moyes heard of his comments, he laughed before heaping praise on the Manchester City loanee.

“I don't know if I like that because players used to not like me”, Moyes said.

“So I don't know how to take that. But look, the Everton supporters love Jack Grealish and I think Jack's giving the club something really different. I don’t want to call him an entertainer, I want to call him a top footballer, and someone who can create goals and score goals."

Moyes’ own love of Grealish is about far more than what he can do going forward. This was another performance in which the 30-year-old battled at both ends of the pitch, winning important interceptions and useful free-kicks across the pitch.

Going forward, he produced the game's defining moment at the Vitality Stadium, cutting inside and striking past Dorde Petrovic courtesy of a deflection from Bafode Diakite.