THE LOOK OF CHAMPIONS
Stones believes Pep’s City masterplan is changing the way England play...and it can only lead to success
GARETH SOUTHGATE is trying to get England playing like Manchester City.
That is the view of John Stones who insists City boss Pep Guardiola’s imprint on English football is even helping the national team.
City defender Stones was outstanding in England’s win in Holland on Friday night while two of his club team-mates. Kyle Walker and Raheem Sterling, are mainstays of the starting XI.
Walker (right, with Southgate) went from being right-back to playing on the right of a back three and Stones claims that is as a result of City’s Total Football style as England beat the Dutch at their own game.
Three Lions boss Southgate is taking encouragement from City’s incredible table-topping season and is ready to experiment again tomorrow when England face Italy.
Stones said: “I think we try to bring all the attributes and what we learn under Pep into the England squad and are open to learn from Gareth as well.
“It stands us in good stead, we work hard on the training pitch under Pep. We learn a lot of things, different styles of play, how to play against different formations. It gives you that head start coming into England and we can share our ideas as well.” After Walker played a key role in the win in Amsterdam, Stones added: “At City you’ve seen our fullbacks kind of come inside, he’s used to it. He played like he’d played there for years. Credit to Kyle, he’s got all the attributes. He had an unbelievable game. “We’ve got the players to do it and players do it at their clubs so it’s not a massive difference for us when we come here. That’s a big thing. If you’re trying to change everyone’s style of play, it’s not going to happen.
“It’s difficult, it’s the top level, you’re playing for England. It’s good every team plays a similar type of football and we come here and it gels together. The manager picks his players knowing what we he wants and he picks his players wisely.
“I enjoyed myself, I always do when I put on the England shirt. I think that’s what any footballer wants, if it’s for club or country. I definitely enjoyed myself in Holland.”
England are struggling to score goals – their win in Holland came after only the third goal in 450 minutes of football – but they are getting harder to beat. Stones helped
them keep a fifth consecutive clean sheet and that comes even though Southgate has been encouraging the defenders to play out from the back.
The acid test will come after England make a mistake doing that but Stones insists the defenders are enjoying playing with a new-found freedom.
He said: “There were mistakes against Holland and I think the character the boys showed was massive. We want to take that forward, and play the football that we are. It’s the right way.
“I’m probably biased in that but everyone’s on-board with it. You’ve got to stay mentally strong and not shy away from it because you’ve seen against Holland we created a lot of chances from playing out from the back and that’s a massive thing.
“If we’ve got that quality we have to stay mentally strong and keep the fans behind us and stay in that positive mind-frame.
“I think in training there are always discussions going on if something’s not right between players and the coaching staff and I think that’s healthy.
“You’ve got to get it off your chest and make sure you go into the game with nothing on your mind or any doubts.”