Stones admits to suffering from difficult City phase
John Stones has opened up about how “difficult” it has been having not played regularly for Manchester City in the past few months.
The 23-year-old defender spoke of his relief in starting for England in last Friday’s friendly away to Holland and, given his lack of game time for his club, is expected to retain his place for tomorrow’s international at home to Italy.
Stones remains a certainty for Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad, but having been one of City’s stand-out performers in the first half of this campaign, before he was injured, he has struggled to make Pep Guardiola’s starting lineup.
The 23-year-old picked up a hamstring injury in November and although he returned to fitness in January he has started just three Premier League matches this year, with Vincent Kompany’s return and the club-record signing of Aymeric Laporte for £57million adding to Guardiola’s options in central defence, where Nicolas Otamendi has been outstanding.
“It’s difficult,” Stones admitted. “Every player wants to play weekin, week-out. But I’ve had games here and there. I’ve been fighting and that’s all you can do. When your chance comes, you’ve got to take it and that’s what I’ve done.
“I’ve had the players’ backing and the manager’s backing. It’s one of those things where the team’s winning games and playing well, and you can’t get back in just like that. I’ve got to keep working hard, and that’s what I’ve been doing, still learning while I’m on the sidelines.”
Asked whether it was the toughest spell of his career, so far, Stones added: “It’s tough, but I’ve got my first medal [City’s Carabao Cup victor] so I can’t complain.” He will, of course, add a Premier League winner’s medal to that and City are in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, although whether he
starts against Liverpool remains to be seen.
Stones has not spoken to Southgate about his lack of game time. “No, I think it’s difficult for everyone really,” he said. “I’ve got to do my job at City and, as I said, I’ve got to take my chance when it comes, and Gareth is watching so much football. He’s picked me this time and I’ve just got to take my chance when I get out on the pitch. Hopefully on Tuesday, we can go again.”
Stones was impressive against the Dutch, even if they provided little attacking threat, and said he was relieved to be starting for his country. “I felt sharp and back to myself and I want to build on that for Tuesday,” he said with England having gained their fifth successive clean sheet, also, to add to a sense of growing confidence about their defensive organisation as Southgate commits to playing three-at-theback with Stones at the heart of it.
“We’ve played 4-4-2 quite a bit with the caps that I’ve got so to come into an England squad and we are able to adapt to three at the back with different players as well is very encouraging,” Stones said.
Southgate has also encouraged England to play out from defence and take risks, at times. “I think it’s the right way,” added Stones, who said he benefited from Guardiola taking a similar approach.