PEP’S FAITH SET IN STONESJOHN

Guardiola repaid for bringing defender back from exile

PEP GUARDIOLA has always had faith in John Stones, even in the Manchester City defender’s darkest moments.

Injuries and issues in his private life cast a shadow over Stones in the past year, and he who lost his way as well as his place for club and country.

It was a dramatic fall from grace for the e £47.5million buy from Everton on in

2016 who was as an automatic pick ck for England on their run to the 2018 018

World Cup p semi-finals.

When City signed Ruben

Dias for a club record £65m in the summer, it was assumed the Portugal star would join Aymeric Laporte as Guardiola’s first- choice central defensive pairing.

But it is Stones, 26, and Dias who became Guardiola’s preferred partnership, forming a formidable understanding.

Yet, even when it seemed Stones was finished at City, unable to stay fit and error-prone when he played, Guardiola had no doubts. He told a press conference in the player’s first sea- son at the club: “John Ston Stones has more per personality than all of us here together in this room, mo more balls than anyone here. I like that. I love him.

“Under pressure, the people criticise him, they say he won’t play again, so I’m delighted to have John. I love him. I love guys with this personality.”

Stones has since set about endorsing Guardiola’s of faith and belief he would eventually return to his best, with an England recall also now likely.

When City drew 1- 1 with Liverpool and lost 2- 0 at Tottenham, Guard i o la jettisoned Laporte in favour of Stones. It proved a masterstroke.

And after City’s 2-0 Carabao Cup semi- final win at

Manchester United, where Stones scored and was assured in defence, Guardiola lavished praise on him.

“He came back and he made a n o t h er outst a n d i n g performance,” he said. “But the most important thing he’s been able to do is something he’s struggled with the last three or four years – playing four, five or six games in a row.

“This is so important, for him especially, and for us. So all credit for him. Football is a long career, you always have ups and downs. He struggled longer than expected but his comeback is absolutely down to him.”