Pep Guardiola's comments on John Stones speak volumes after Man City winner
John Stones scored Manchester City's dramatic late winning goal against Wolves on the weekend to further establish himself in the heart of his manager Pep Guardiola
by David Anderson · The MirrorPep Guardiola claims John Stones is like “a son” for him at Manchester City.
Guardiola says he knows Stones so well and the England international in his ninth season with him, having joined City with him in the summer of 2016. Guardiola admits it has been hard for Stones to break up Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji’s centre-half pairing at City, but says the Yorkshireman has proved his worth with his late equaliser against Arsenal and stoppage-time winner at Wolves.
“John looks like he was my son,” said the City boss. “I know his body language and everything about him. He’s one of the most adorable professionals. The only reason he wasn’t in was because Ruben and Manu were in incredible form.
“It’s not lack of confidence or bad form, he knows when he’s fine and when he’s not. Do you know how many games and training sessions we’ve had together? But it’s not just about that. Sometimes Ruben gives you something and Manu gives you something and they were unbelievably strong.
“It’s not that he gave us one point against Arsenal or two points against Wolves with goals which were so important. It’s not about that. You have to appreciate the incredible amount of things he does for us. I’m so happy to have him here still with us. I need him, I need all the players.”
Guardiola also criticised national teams for not communicating better with City and he is frustrated that Kyle Walker returned from England duty with a knee injury. He also claims he was furious when Stones was injured playing for England in the friendlies against Brazil and Belgium in March when City had Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals and the title run-in.
“I never was so angry like that month, never before,” he said. “Never before was I so disappointed with a friendly game. We were playing quarter-finals against Madrid and trying to win the Premier League and he comes back injured, I didn’t like it at all.
“Before when I was a player, the national team manager called the clubs. Now nobody talks. How they feel, how they are. Maybe the physios talk, but the managers never. In the first or second season with Gareth [Southgate] yes, but now no.
“Sometimes Ronald Koeman because he is a friend of mine. I know the players don’t want to get injured and I always encourage them to go to the national team, it’s a pleasure.
“But if it’s a friendly game you can’t come back injured, I’m sorry. If you are focused, if it’s a friendly game, you can’t come back injured when you’re playing the quarter finals of the Champions League, when you’re arriving in the last stages of the season with a chance to win the titles.
“We are well-paid here, the club pay us, not the national teams. Sometimes you have to respect the clubs. In friendly games you cannot be injured. You can play, absolutely, but you cannot come back injured.”
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