John Stones has revealed that his determination to prove that he can still play at the highest level has been key to his remarkable comeback at Manchester City.
John Stones said “I wanted to prove to myself – no-one else – prove to myself that I deserve to be where I am. Also to my teammates. I wanted to show what I could bring to the team. I had to come out of a situation that I didn’t want to be in. That no footballer wants to be in, not playing or not contributing. So I went away and looked at everything and fought hard to get back into the team. That comes with them playing well and playing consistently. I’m extremely proud of myself, but I couldn’t have done it without other people and my teammates. To reach the end of the season with two trophies, a semi-final and another final with the Champions League this weekend, it’s something that I’m extremely proud of, on a personal note.”
Saturday’s meeting with Chelsea will be the second time in three years that the Champions League final will be an all English affair and Stones believes that shows the quality of the Premier League.
John Stones said “It speaks volumes about the Premier League and the calibre of teams competing against the best teams in the world, that two English teams can end up in the Champions League final. We’ve played each other three times this year, four at the weekend. It will be something that we are used to – but not used to. A different environment, a different feeling, but have more knowledge on them maybe than teams in other countries.”
With City signing not one but two centre-backs last summer – in the shape of Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake – it appeared that Stones’ time at the club was quickly coming to an end. The ‘Barnsley Beckenbauer’ put in a series of excellent displays and the Blues didn’t lose a game with him in the side for the following 16 matches, turning the tide in the Premier League title race. Now with Stones an almost guaranteed starter in Saturday’s Champions League final, he has reflected on his incredible redemption.. The 26-year-old was already behind the likes of Aymeric Laporte, Eric Garcia and even defensive-midfielder Fernandinho in the centre-back pecking order after a difficult couple of seasons with injuries. Yet, with Pep Guardiola unhappy with the performance of Laporte in the defeat to Tottenham in November, he handed an opportunity to Stones, who took it with both hands.
