Sport
John Stones and the unlikeliest of revivals at Man City
If the Manchester City career of John Stones wasn’t already in jeopardy, it certainly became so when the club failed once to make their long-awaited breakthrough in the Champions League. Against Lyon, with City’s season on the line, Pep Guardiola favoured a back three that included teenager Erick Garcia and midfielder Fernandinho over the 26-year-old who watched the full quarter final defeat from the bench.
At that point, it appeared Stones would soon be moved on. Guardiola openly spoke of the decision he would face over the summer with regards to the defender’s future. Arsenal were reportedly interested in taking the England international. Stones had seemingly spurned his chance at the Etihad Stadium.
A lot has changed since the summer, though. Manchester City’s signing of Ruben Dias from Benfica looked to deal another blow to Stones’ prospects of breaking back into the first team, knocking him further down the pecking order, but the 26-year-old has been an unexpected solution to many of Guardiola’s defensive problems.
Stones only managed 16 starts in all competitions for City last season, but this season has seen him forge a strong partnership with Dias. Despite being Guardiola’s main man at the back for the last three years, Aymeric Laporte has dropped to the bench. No opposition side has scored against City in Stones’ last eight appearances as the Citizens have tightened up significantly.
“He played really, really well with Ruben [Dias] as well, all of the back four were so brilliant defensively because it’s not easy,” Guardiola said after his side’s 1-0 away win over Southampton on Saturday. “He has been here more than five seasons and knows exactly what you have to do, what he has to do
“Unfortunately, he could not do it in the previous years but now he has done it. It was himself, he settled perfectly in what he would like, no injuries, and showed his personality with and without the ball. We are delighted, and especially because he’s an incredibly nice person. His mum and dad must be so proud of how nice a person he is and his daughter has a top father.”
The turnaround in Stones’ fortunes has been remarkable and it is one which should inspire Harry Maguire. He is finally flourishing as the player Manchester City bought him to be. The natural ability of John Stones has never been in question, with the defender comfortable on the ball from the moment he broke through at Everton as a teenager. It’s in his mind where vulnerabilities have been previously found, but that weakness has been eradicated this season.
Of course, it’s still relatively early in the 2020/21 campaign. John Stones must maintain a level of consistency over the whole season. Manchester City need him to be in the right mindset in every game he plays. That’s what is expected of top tier players. There can be no dips. Stones mustn’t go back to his old ways.
If, however, he can sustain these performance levels, Stones offers a solution to one of City’s biggest problems. Since winning the 2018/19 Premier League title, Guardiola’s side have been too vulnerable at the back. The promising partnership between Dias and Stones could give Manchester City the strongest defensive basis they have had since Vincent Kompany was at the club.
Guardiola has other problems to address. City have been too slow and ponderous in the attacking third this season. They have yet to find a true successor to David Silva, with the Spaniard still notable in his absence. There are questions over the number nine position too, with Sergio Aguero out of contract at the end of the season and Gabriel Jesus struggling for fitness.
Back in 2016, with Guardiola just through the door, John Stones was bought to be a kingpin of the Catalan’s team. He failed to live up to that billing, but there are signs now the 26-year-old is making up for lost time. Whether by design or not, City are now getting the best out of Stones.
You could earn up to £100 (or currency equivalent) in bonus funds by joining Colossus with our New Player Bonus. Click here to join the action.
