Dean Smith: Premier League crucial to Jack Grealish's Aston Villa future
Boss Dean Smith has admitted Premier League survival is likely key to Villa’s hopes of keeping Jack Grealish this summer.
Grealish is tomorrow aiming to become the first Villa captain to lift a major trophy since Andy Townsend in 1996 when they take on Manchester City at Wembley.
But though victory would be a dream come true for the lifelong Villa fan, Smith admits staying in the top flight will be the biggest factor in deciding the futures of Grealish and other players.
Villa sit 17th in the table and kick-off the final in the relegation zone depending on results elsewhere.
Smith said: “Obviously, staying in this league is one of the biggest things to help us keep Jack Grealish.
“He wants to play at the highest level and he wants to win trophies.
“Winning a trophy? You could say we’ve just won one (if we win on Sunday)!
“But we’re going to work hard. We have to work hard on Sunday to win that trophy.
“Jack’s future, like the rest of the players, is down to what happens over the next three months. What we can do is assess it then.”
The final will mark a year since Smith handed Grealish the captain’s armband.
“It was probably one of my easiest decisions at the time because I knew what the club meant to him, I knew what being captain would mean to him, so it wasn’t that hard a decision,” said Smith.
“For me he was the natural one to lead the team and what a year he’s had.”
