STONES: OUR TEAM SPIRIT IS VITAL KEY

JOHN STONES was busy being interviewed and didn’t notice behind him further proof of the incredible team spirit which has played a major part in Manchester City’s undisputed rule of English football.

Just hours after tearing knee ligaments, Kevin De Bruyne had struggled along the blue carpet on crutches for Amazon’s fly-on-the-wall documentary premiere about City’s title-winning season.

De Bruyne could have been forgiven for giving the gala night at Manchester’s Printworks a miss.

But the battling Belgian wanted to be with his Blues Brothers – and what better way to start his recuperation than to be cheered up by his pals.

Stones (above) said: “You enjoy a lot of time with your team-mates and it’s an unbelievable dressing room.

“Everyone gets on, no matter the language barrier. Everyone mingles with each other. And that really does translate on to the pitch. We have that bond on and off the pitch.

“When you go through the hard times, they will be so much easier because you have no one complaining.

“I have had experiences in the past – my first club, where not everyone got along and that made it difficult to take on to the pitch.

“At this one, we know everyone has each other’s back and we can call anyone at any time over anything.

“We know they are there to help – away from football, I mean. That’s a special thing to have.”

Stones added: “I don’t know whether to say it’s harder or not to take another step up. It is tough because last season we broke records.

“But we all know there are things to improve as a team and as individuals. That’s the exciting thing.

“Everyone in the dressing room buys into this winning culture.”

All Or Nothing: Manchester City is available now on Amazon Prime Video