Shaun Wright-Phillips says he was ‘in awe’ of one Man City player while watching him vs Real Madrid

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Manchester City lost to Real Madrid in the Champions League this week, but it’s not all doom and gloom after this game.

Indeed, there were some positives to take away from the 3-2 loss at the Etihad.

Pep Guardiola wasn’t at fault for this defeat as it was a few late individual errors that cost City.

The reality is that after 85 minutes, City were 2-1 up against the reigning European champions, and you have to be doing something right to be in that position.

For the most part, this was a mature performance from City, barring the last 10 minutes, and there were some standout performers on the day.

Speaking on Team Talks, Shaun Wright-Phillips has been reviewing this match, and he says that he was in awe of John Stones during the Madrid game, claiming that the England international was controlling the game with ease before Manuel Akanji’s injury.

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Shaun Wright-Phillips blown away by John Stones

Wright-Phillips spoke about Stones’ performance in this game.

The pundit says that if Akanji hadn’t been injured and Stones was allowed to continue in that hybrid midfield role, the crucial mistakes in the game wouldn’t have been made.

Meanwhile, Wright-Phillips noted that he was in awe of Stones ahead of other superstars on the pitch such as Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

“I think if Akanji doesn’t get injured and John Stones stays in that role. I don’t see the same mistakes happening, he controlled the game, he was always on for a pass, John Stones was always getting the ball,” Wright-Phillips said.

“I was at the game, and there were so many fantastic players there to see, but I was in awe of John Stones the way he can be a centre-back and play CDM, controlling the game as if he’s a natural CDM.”

John Stones stats vs Real Madrid

Wright-Phillips says that Stones controlled the game against Real Madrid, and he’s not wrong.

Indeed, the £50m man was so calm and composed in this game, and the stats show it.

Stones didn’t necessarily put in a commanding defensive midfield performance with crunching tackles flying in left, right and centre, but he was so good on the ball.

Stones connected with almost every pass he attempted, he was taking more touches than almost any other player, and he never needlessly lost the ball.

This is exactly the type of performance Manchester City have been missing from a defensive midfield player since Rodri went down with an injury.

Sadly, Manuel Akanji’s injury threw a spanner into the works and Pep Guardiola had to reshuffle his pieces, but, as Wright-Phillips says, perhaps City wouldn’t have lost this game if Akanji hadn’t been forced off.

Akanji is now out for a prolonged period, and, once again, City need to find another solution to their problems.