John Stones may have wanted to play more in the 2023/24 season, but his influence this season has remained as strong as ever.
A hip injury a few days after our Community Shield clash against Arsenal ruled Stones out until October 2023.
But after two months away, the defender returned against the Gunners in a thrilling Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium, in which Pep Guardiola’s team deserved at least a draw, but ended up defeated by a late goal from Gabriel Martinelli. .
It was a tough blow to swallow, but seeing Stones back was an example of the incredible faith the manager has in him to return in such a high-pressure environment.
Indeed, Guardiola, Stones’ team-mates and City fans know that throughout his eight seasons at the Club, the defender has consistently been a player who stands out when we need him most.
And it is telling that one of their best displays of the season came at one of the toughest grounds in English football, Anfield.
Liverpool’s title race may have slowed in the final months of the season, but at the start of March the Premier League’s top three were separated by just one point.
All eyes were on Merseyside, and Stones produced a standout display to help Guardiola’s men come away with a precious point.
The defender even opened the scoring with his only goal of the season, capitalizing on a clever corner at the near post to surprise the hosts, before using all his experience to marshal City’s defense after Liverpool equalized from the penalty spot early in the second half. .
WATCH: SPECIAL END OF SEASON PROGRAM
Much is made of Stones’ qualities with the ball at his feet, but this often overshadows how good he is in defensive situations. The match against Liverpool brought this ability to the fore.
In January 2024, the English player was recognized for his exceptional contributions once again with a place in the FIFA FIFPRO World XI alongside five of his City teammates.
This came just a month after Stones started both of our FIFA Club World Cup matches en route to lifting the trophy for the first time.
In doing so, we became the first team in the history of English football to hold the Premier League, the FA Cup, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup, another milestone in history that our number 5 can place his name.
BUY YOUR STONES #5 SHIRT
It might be easy to run out of adjectives to describe Stones’ ability on the ball, but his performance against Bournemouth in February 2024 exemplified this remarkably shortly after winning the Club World Cup.
While it is now common to see the defender advance into more advanced areas and add an extra option in midfield, the 30-year-old took this to new levels against the Cherries.
City secured a 1-0 victory thanks to Phil Foden’s early goal, but a look at Stones’ touch map, almost a fifty-fifty split between the offensive and defensive halves, showed how much he was involved, and not only in the initial construction of the plays.
It was a display that caught the attention of Match of the Day presenter and former England footballer Gary Lineker, who said he was “mesmerised” by Stones’ almost effortless ability to transform into an attacking midfielder.
Former City defender Micah Richards added: “John Stones, just his position, I’d like to say he was playing as a defender, but look at the positions he’s in. He’s not just there to be a cover, He catches the ball and plays.”
“The only thing he didn’t get today was probably an assist or a goal. His all-round game was magnificent.”
With 28 games played across all competitions this season, we may not have seen as much of Stones as he would have liked in 2023/24, but these moments have shown that the defender remains one of our most integral players and one of the best defensive operators in the game.
SEASON STATS
Games (all competitions): 28
(*Premier League only)
IN YOUR OWN WORDS
“Winning six in a row, the Triple Crown, all the things that have happened so far in my career, it’s incredible and such a strange feeling.”
“The length and all the ups and downs that get you to this point, it was a really good end to the season emotionally, in the sense that we’ve been here before knowing the pressure and what it takes.”
“The result was just incredible. I’m absolutely thrilled. It’s never a smooth season, but we got there in the end.”
PEP ABOUT THE STONES
“He had a lot of setbacks in previous seasons. Last season he was incredible.”
“The most important thing is how professional he is.”
“How he builds his lifestyle in terms of nutrition, rest and preparation before the game and to recover after the game.”
“He’s incredibly professional.”
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2024-06-18 13:19:17
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