John Stones has admitted that he gets surprised at the kind of positions he pops up in thanks to the new role Pep Guardiola has got him playing at Manchester City.
Stones’ changing position was one of the most intriguing aspects of City’s run to the Treble last season.
The England international has now started to operate in midfield areas when City have the ball.
He moves up alongside Rodri, in a bid to create overloads in the midfield.
It is a tactic that helps City dominate the ball even more.
Stones is still learning the position. But so far, he’s looks absolutely amazing in it, and it’s exciting to think what kind of level he could reach in the new season.
John Stones admits surprise about his midfield role for Man City
Yesterday, City played their first pre-season game against Yokohama F. Marinos, beating the Japanese outfit 5-3.
City fell 2-0 down, but were able to shake off the rust and come back.
Stones – who recently met Andres Iniesta – was among the scorers, curling a lovely effort into the far corner after good hold-up play by Julian Alvarez.
We are now starting to see Stones in and around the edge of the area.
And this is something that does catch the man himself by surprise.
He said after the win over Yokohama (via mancity.com): “I’m still learning every day, training, trying to master little things that I’m good at and work on the things I’m not good at.
“And if the manager wants to play me there and then decides to do new things or the same things and build on them from last season I’ll give it my all as I did.
“I absolutely love the kind of freedom to get forward and create things and bring my qualities and that side of my game out.
“I surprised myself sometimes in the positions I get in but yeah I really enjoy it and I’m just trying to give everything every time I go out there.”
John Stones is word-class – and he could improve even more this season
It is so intriguing to hear Stones speak like this.
It is very easy to forget that the £50 million star hasn’t been doing this hybrid role for very long when he looks so comfortable out on the pitch.
With this in mind, it is very exciting to see what kind of player he could become in 2023/24.
He’s already world-class.
But he could get even better the longer he spends playing this role.
