As Manchester City became treble winners after their 1-0 victory against Inter Milan, Ally McCoist lavished praise on to John Stones.
The well-liked pundit lauded the 29-year-old on talkSPORT, who was compared to Diego Maradona after his sumptuous performance in the Champions League final by Manuel Akanji.
Ally McCoist has now said that he has been taken aback by how brilliant John Stones has been in his newfound hybrid role for Manchester City, after their triumph against Inter Milan.
Ally McCoist raves about John Stones as Manchester City beat Inter Milan to become treble winners
The England international has been a revelation in this role, dovetailing between either centre-back or right-back and midfield, proving Vincent Kompany right, who labeled him as a ‘clever footballer’ in 2021, in an interview with GOAL.
Against Simone Inzaghi’s side as well, Stones was dribbling past opponents for fun, picking out passes, playing expertly on the half-turn and operating like a seasoned No.8.
Ally McCoist, much like the rest of the world after watching Manchester City make history against Inter Milan was awestruck by John Stones’ heroics.
“I have loved the new role and the new John Stones. He looks so comfortable just stepping in there into that position in the middle of the park. Not just sitting in the middle of the park, forward positions in the middle of the park as well.”
“The first one I saw do it was [Joao] Cancelo on the left-hand side and then Rico Lewis would do it. But I think John Stones is the first time I’ve seen a centre-back do it and do it so well. He’s been brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.”
John Stones has a special place in history after this season
First things first, Ally McCoist was spot on about John Stones, who has immaculate for Manchester City once again in their hard-fought victory against Inter Milan.
But aside from that, it is worth emphasising that after the role Stones has played this season, he should have a special place in history.
To start as either a centre-back or a right-back, play across all phases of midfield, create wide overloads and to perform each role at an elite level is a feat not many players can boast of.
John Stones has adapted mid-season to have done so in a side that won the treble and the impact of his role as well as his displays when being deployed in it should be talked about for decades to come.
