Stones: That willingness to get better rubs off from him, I’ll go the extra mile
THERE is a story from Pep Guardiola’s time at Bayern Munich that revolves around his desire to quarry untapped potential in Javi Martinez.
Martinez was already a World Cup winner by the time his path crossed with Guardiola, a holding central midfielder who had been courted by all of Europe’s elite clubs. Guardiola, though, believed he could become an even better central defender and made it his mission to transform him.
The coaching was relentless. On the training pitches, Guardiola never let up at Martinez, but things became even more intense in the video room. The Spain international believes he was shown more than 200 hours of footage before his mission was complete.
When the particular tale is told to John Stones, there is a telling smile. During his two years at Manchester City, he has felt the full extent of Guardiola’s intensity and heard the constant demands to be progressive — there are always new heights for a player to scale if a mind can be opened.
‘He has shown me videos although not to that extent,’ says Stones. ‘But he always shows me things to work on; things I can improve. But he does it very simply. That is the best way. You don’t want to flood a player with too much stuff, and over complicate it.
‘Everything is down to fine details, how you can improve. I think back to two years ago [when he left Everton] and each day the willingness to get better — along with my teammates — rubs off from him. That willingness to win, to go the extra mile. It’s why we got the results we did last season.’
Such is Guardiola’s belief in Stones’ ability on the ball, he stepped him up to play the closing stages of last Sunday’s 2-0 win at Arsenal in midfield. There is no indication that he is planning a project that is Martinez in reverse but the manager will not be afraid use him as an anchor again.
Does it appeal to him long-term? There is a wry smile and a reply of ‘No chance’ when asked whether he people should start calling him ‘Busquets’ but it is clear that Stones, who has made huge strides since becoming English football’s first £50million defender, is receptive.
‘That was a tactical move so don’t read too much into it,’ said Stones. ‘If the gaffer wants me to do a job, I will grab it with both hands even though I haven’t done it before. We have been working hard as a defensive unit in training and that’s my preferred position, one I have played all my life.’
Given the riches Guardiola has in midfield, there is no need to ask Stones to shift. The tutorials, though, will continue and a new audience will get a glimpse of how tough this taskmaster is thanks to City’s new fly-onthe-wall documentary All or Nothing.
There are frequent images of the manager taking Stones to one side, putting an arm around him or slapping him on the chest, as he imparts instructions. Guardiola was aware of the 24-year-old when he was a novice at Everton and has long held the belief he will blossom into one of the world’s best. Yet there was a view not so long ago that Stones would struggle to meet expectations.
He was seen by critics to be a risk taker, a mistake waiting to happen. Education, though, has eliminated the propensity to gamble and evidence of how much he has matured was there for all to see at the World Cup.
Stones was arguably England’s standout performer at the World Cup. Such were his levels of consistency, Gareth Southgate came away feeling he would have been at comfortable at the heart of any top nation’s defence.
‘I think I just built on last season and enjoyed my football,’ said Stones, who hit two in the 6-1 rout of Panama. ‘I wanted to do the nation proud. I wanted to enjoy my football in Russia. I tried to bring everything I learned at City and bring it all into one.’
The one thing he couldn’t bring, however, was the final ingredient to make England winners. Losing in the semifinals to Croatia stung but he has returned from the summer break determined to help City make history. It is fanciful to believe they will go through the 100point barrier again but the way City purred against Arsenal was ominous for those who are hoping to stop them. Guardiola is adamant he can squeeze more development from this squad and, if that is the case, the potential is remarkable.
Guardiola has spent the summer thinking about ways to combat obdurate opponents such as today’s visitors Huddersfield — who drew 0-0 at the Etihad Stadium last season — and has spelt out his ideas to the squad. Can they really make another step?
‘I don’t know whether to say harder or not,’ Stones replies. ‘Obviously it is tough. Last season we broke records but we all know there are things to improve as a team and individuals. That’s the exciting thing, but there is no point thinking we can do it. There has to be a willingness to do it.
‘We’ve been successful because everyone has been good at their job in their own position. We have worked on what our responsibilities are in training and know what each person does, how each works. That’s why the team has been so successful.’
From everything Stones has seen in the last few weeks — and against Arsenal — the hunger remains.
‘Everyone in the dressing room, even the young lads, will put their body on the line and buy into this winning culture,’ said Stones, who is well aware that no team has defended the title since Manchester United made it three straight titles in 2009.
‘It’s special to be part of it. Retaining the title is what we want to do. We would love to win it back-to-back but, obviously, it’s still early doors.
‘It’s a long season with a lot of competitions. But that’s what we have to set as a standard. Do everything again — and more.’