Manchester City have just concluded what may be the greatest season in club football history, and John Stones has played a huge part in writing this chapter in the history books.
Indeed, the £50m defender has been immense this season. He’s played at centre-back, right-back and in the midfield and he’s been unreal in each of those roles.
However, it wasn’t always this easy for Stones.
When the England international first arrived at Manchester City there were many questions about his quality and if he was good enough to play for a team of this stature, but Rio Ferdinand says he always championed Stones.
Indeed, speaking on BT Sport, Ferdinand told the story of how he always backed Stones to become a gem, stating that he actually phoned into a radio station to defend Stones early in his City career when he was being criticised.
Ferdinand always backed Stones
The pundit spoke about how he’s always been a fan of Stones.
“There were many doubts. I remember telling you this story before off-air. I pulled over and rang a radio station after he was getting hammered when he was at Man City at first and he was struggling. I said, listen, this guy has quality, young centre-backs need time and experience. He’s brave, he will take the ball always, there was a mistake in him, but the experience he has now, he’s doing different roles, composure, bravery, he deserves all that he gets,” Ferdinand said.
Always had the quality
Stones may have had a slow start to life at Manchester City, but the reality is that he always had the quality to be a star at the Etihad.
You could see it from his time at Everton. Stones was always a Guardiola-player in the making.
Defensively sound, physically dominant and so calm on the ball, Stones has genuinely established himself as one of the best defenders in the world now.
Ferdinand knows a good defender when he sees one, and the fact he always backed Stones is a testament to his quality.
