Manchester City star John Stones has called the decision by Pep Guardiola to use him as a number 8 against Inter in the Champions League final ‘strange’.
The 29-year-old was speaking in a joint-interview with Kyle Walker for a YouTube video for Channel 4.
Stones has just finished the season having made a remarkable impact for City.
The star changed his position midway through the campaign, playing a hybrid role of defence and midfield.
It was a move by Pep that had a seismic impact, with City becoming almost unstoppable with Stones and Rodri controlling the space in midfield.
But in the Champions League final against Inter, Stones’ position was actually tweaked slightly.
He operated more as a number eight (a midfielder going from box-to-box) rather than a holder like Rodri. And Stones has been speaking about that decision by Pep.
John Stones says playing as a number 8 in the Champions League final against Inter was ‘strange’
It was very interesting to see Stones playing in more advanced positions against Inter.
We have seen him in midfield for months now. But in Istanbul he was genuinely going from box-to-box against Inter which was a sight to behold.
Arguably, he was City’s best player on the night.
But Stones admits it was actually strange for him to play in such a role.
The £250,000-a-week star told Jill Scott: “I think I played as an 8 in the second-half of a game during the season. Just because of how the manager saw us breaking down their system. We trained it a few times before the final.
“To play a number 8 was strange, but I enjoyed it. And it makes it easier when you win as well.”
John Stones put in one of the best Champions League final performances in years, as star reflects on Pep Guardiola’s decision to play him as an 8
Stones was utterly superb against Inter.
While the rest of team struggled, he was absolutely outstanding in a role he is not very experienced in at all.
In the weeks leading up to the Inter game, we saw Stones operating as more of a number 6. Someone that would hold like Rodri.
But against Inter the shackles were off and Stones was getting forwards. Watching him surge forwards with the ball was breathtaking at times.
And to see that in a Champions League final was incredible.
He may have felt ‘strange’ playing in such a role. But boy did Stones absolutely flourish.
