Stones happy with the way it all turned out
MANCHESTER CITY summer buy John Stones has admitted his failure to secure a move to Chelsea last season has turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
The England international tabled a transfer request in a bid to force his thenclub Everton to accept a £30m bid from the West London club.
Everton dug their heels in and refused to let him go, but finally budged when Pep Guardiola’s City offered an Everton club record £47.5m for his signature.
Stones, who should feature against West Ham at the Etihad today, said: “For me, personally, Pep Guardiola is the best manager in the world, so I suppose it has been a blessing in disguise.
“He is the ultimate professional, very detailed. The gaffer knew how I played and it is just fine tuning a few things.
“I really enjoy the training and learning new things from him.”
Everton boss Roberto Martinez had to take Stones out of the firing line for a time last season after a string of errorridden performances.
Stones added: “It was difficult when there was a lot of speculation and things happening in my private life. It unsettled not just me, but my family.
“I would never have questioned my professionalism at the time. I stated what I wanted to do and it didn’t happen.
“Obviously I am going to make mistakes and it is how I correct those – as I always try to do – and keep moving forward and become a winner.”
Meanwhile, striker Sergio Aguero will be hoping this afternoon to add to his six goals in three games already this season – but it has not stopped him receiving a kick up the backside from Guardiola.
The Spaniard wants his prolific frontman to do more to put pressure on defenders when he does not have the ball.
The 28-year-old explained: “He is very demanding of me. I need to be the player who starts the pressure.
“And with my pressure the rest of my teammates will join me and keep up the pressure. I’m happy to do that.
“He is the boss and we need to listen to him. What he tells me is to make me a better player. We’ve played just a few games, so I am getting used to it. I need to keep improving even more.
“He’s a very cheerful manager. He’s always talking to you, cheering you up and pushing you.”
Aguero has scored 50 goals in the last two Premier League seasons, but believes that Guardiola has the formula to make him an even better goalscorer.
He continued added: “His arrival is great because with his way of playing, I’ll have more chances to score and hopefully we will be able to win more games.”