After Manchester City beat Manchester United 2-1 to win the FA Cup, Pep Guardiola suggested that John Stones singlehandedly turned his side’s season around.
The Spanish tactician was speaking to BBC Sport, as he lauded the £47.5 million (Sky Sports) man after his wondrous outing at Wembley Stadium.
Aside from heaping praise on to Manchester City defender John Stones for his incredible performance against Manchester United, Pep Guardiola perhaps even had a bigger compliment in store for him.
Pep Guardiola suggests John Stones changed his side’s season after beating Manchester United
Compared to the likes of Lothar Matthaus and Matthias Sammer after his spellbinding showing by Jamie Carragher, the Englishman was at his typically effortless self on derby day in his now-trademark hybrid role.
Defensively, Stones was impregnable at the back whilst in midfield, the way he dictated play was akin to a seasoned No.8.
As Manchester City won the FA Cup for only the second time and by beating Manchester United this time around, Pep Guardiola suggested that if not for John Stones, his team could not have switched their system around mid-season.
“Incredible player. He’s played so well lately and has given the opportunity to play in this certain way. All of the guys were amazing.”
“Stones has the quality to pass the ball and he can arrive into the attacking positions to control the play.”
Pep Guardiola is bang on the money about the Manchester City centre-back
Previously, the Catalan boss attributed his side’s turnaround to Rico Lewis, for how he gave the likes of John Stones and Manuel Akanji the blueprint on how to operate as an inverted right-back.
However, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is also right in giving John Stones his fair share of credit, as he displayed against Manchester United once again that he has mastered this role.
If not for the 29-year-old’s presence in midfield, Ilkay Gundogan would be unable to play in a much more advanced role than before to do the damage he has done this campaign.
Similarly, Stones’ positioning in the middle of the park has also eased the burden off Rodri to keep things ticking and protect the back four.
While at centre-back, John Stones is one of, if not the best in the world and once he returns to his usual position off the ball, he keeps attackers at bay as well.
