The Manchester City winger also said he is delighted Cole Palmer has succeeded at Chelsea.

Jack Grealish has said Chelsea are the ‘perfect’ opponent for Manchester City to face after this week’s heartbreak against Real Madrid.

Pep Guardiola’s side crashed out of the Champions League on penalties despite dominating Wednesday’s second leg, and producing 33 shots across 120 minutes. It’s a defeat that ends City’s hopes of retaining their European crown and winning a second treble.

But a bad week could turn even worse if the Premier League champions are beaten by Chelsea in Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final, which would leave City with just the Premier League title to compete for. But that’s not an issue that concerns Grealish, who feels the quick turnaround between the cup matches suits the team.

“Ever since I've been here, for three years it's been the same. We've always played the second Champions League quarter-final game and then we're straight into the FA Cup,” reflected the England international.

“The first year it didn't go well and we got beat in that game against Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-final but last year it was perfect. We went and won 3-0 at Wembley [against Sheffield United]. It's the perfect game for us to put it right.

“We've not been used to losing, especially in the last couple of years,” he added. “We always knew it was going to be a tough game against one of the best teams in the world. It went down to penalties and it's never nice to go out on penalties.

“Luckily enough for us we've got another game within three days where we can go and put it right. Sometimes it's better when it's like that. It's better when you can put it right straight away rather than waiting and dwelling on it for a couple of weeks.”

But ‘putting it right’ might be easier said than done. Twice already this season Chelsea have held City to a draw, while it was the London club who advanced when the sides met at this stage of the competition three years ago.

Chelsea also come into the semi-final on the back of a convincing 6-0 win against Everton on Monday. Not for the first time this season, Cole Palmer's virtuoso showing inspired that victory, with four goals against Sean Dyche’s side.

Palmer began this season with a match-winning goal for City at Wembley prior to his August switch to Stamford Bridge and, eight months on, the 21-year-old could bring City’s hold over the FA Cup to an end.

Few questioned Palmer’s ability during his time at City, but even the most ardent fan couldn’t have envisaged a 23-goal season that now sees him offer  real competition to the likes of Grealish for a spot in this summer’s England squad.

“I was one person who always raved about Cole,” said his former City team-mate. “I always said how good he was. I could see it every day in training. I'm very happy for him that he's gone somewhere and he's playing because he's a really good guy, a nice lad who I got on well with. 

“I'm happy that he's gone on and he's playing well and playing regularly. I think that that was the reason why he left here because he wanted to play. I'm happy for him, I just hope he doesn't have the best game on Saturday.”