Pep Guardiola has revealed that John Stones has become an “incredible” professional ever since joining Manchester City in 2016.
During Stones’ first three out of his first four campaigns at City, injuries, in particular, played a major role during his unconvincing spell at the club at the time.
In the 2017/2018 season, of course, the £47.5 million (Sky Sports) man partnered Nicolas Otamendi as part of a defence that went on to win the first Premier League title in the Pep Guardiola era at Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola says John Stones has become an “incredible” professional since joining Manchester City
But ever since the 2020/2021 campaign, the Englishman has fulfilled his tremendous potential that was constantly discussed when he broke through at Everton as a young prospect.
Cut to the present and the five-time Premier League winner is one of the Sky Blues’ most pivotal players.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola praised John Stones for being the top professional he is ahead of his side’s upcoming contest against Brentford on Monday.
“He had in the previous seasons, previous seasons, [he] had a lot of setbacks like today, like this year. Last season was amazing, so the most important thing is I’m not concerned, how incredible [a] professional he is. How beloved his lifestyle in terms of food and rest and preparation and taking care”, he said (via HaytersTV).
“Before the game and recovery games so it’s incredible professional. Sometimes, why when a player does this, I’m not concerned at all. Football, [it] sometimes happens, you know. Sometimes, you do these kinds of things and you get injured.”
“Hopefully, it’s the last one, he can finish helping us because now like we said before, there are a lot of games coming and everyone is important and the guys who are coming from the bench will be important and that’s why we are really pleased that everybody is back.”
Pep Guardiola also revealed that it took John Stones time to become the professional he is today after signing for Manchester City.
“Yeah, of course. He arrived here from Everton, played one game a week, he was so young and the process to realise, oh, [there is a game at Manchester City] every three days and the demand to win, win, win every single day, you need a process to adapt [to] that”, he said.
Pep Guardiola also noted that John Stones perhaps developed a winning mentality that comes from playing for an elite club like Manchester City.
“When you come from the academy from maybe City or maybe my experience in Barcelona, I was there. When you are there, you have to win. 12, 13, 14, five years old, you have to win every single game. Collate this mentality from early ages, maybe John [Stones] didn’t have that and now being in a top club, maybe [he] needed a little bit [of] time. But he got, he got it”, he added.
“Otherwise, he cannot stay long-term at a club like that. Club extended the contract once or twice, I don’t remember clearly and he’s a national team player. So, what happened is he handled playing every three days and every three days, you be ready. You cannot lose. It’s allowed. It’s allowed, understand me.”
“It’s allowed to lose because of course, you can lose but the mentality [is] that we have to win and he won it. Now, he knows exactly. Most of the players know it.”
John Stones’ professionalism is evident in how he constantly comes back from injury and performs
Pep Guardiola raises a fair point about John Stones, whose professionalism shines through as he continues to return from his recurring injury woes and emerges as a mainstay for Manchester City.
It would be easy for Stones to perhaps be demotivated, considering how frustrating it must be for him to keep getting injured.
Instead, the 29-year-old bounces back from such setbacks time and time again to come to his team’s rescue, which exemplifies his desire to keep helping City win silverware.
