Manchester City Defender Jone stones has announced this morning that he will be Leaving Ethihad Stadium to join this shocking Premier League Club this summer due to lack of playing time
Imagine telling a Manchester City supporter a year ago that they would have a fully healthy John Stones available for a series of must-win games to capture the Premier League championship, and Pep Guardiola deciding to keep him out.
When Stones led the midfield in the Champions League final 11 months ago, it seemed unimaginable that he would not be the first name on the teamsheet whenever feasible throughout the current season. However, a combination of injuries and conditioning setbacks has hampered his season, limiting him to just 27 appearances this season.
He has only started one of the previous seven games, failing to play 90 minutes since the away trip to Real Madrid. He has only played 76 minutes out of a potential 660, with Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake taking his position and Josko Gvardiol excelling as a left defender. Akanji has started 18 of the past 20 games.
Ruben Dias returned to the starting lineup at Fulham, and after Ake was hurt, Kyle Walker came on, despite Pep Guardiola acknowledging that the right-back had scarcely trained in the lead-up – however the substitution did allow Akanji to be moved away from right-back, where he was struggling.
So, why has Stones suddenly found himself as the fifth or sixth choice? Guardiola affirmed at Craven Cottage that he is totally healthy and uninjured.
“He’s pretty good [fitness-wise],” Guardiola confessed. “Some players take a stride forward, while others do not. Manu is playing brilliantly right now, and Nathan was as impressive. That’s why. When you play games from that position. Jack played a lot previous season, but this season he played less. In this squad, you must continually perform well, many times over.”
Guardiola challenged Stones to return to the starting lineup for the last three games of the season, comparing their connection to that of a father and son.
“I know the players. “Gundogan was my first signing when I arrived here years ago,” he added. “We know one other, not as father and son, but rather well. It’s a question for John; we need him both now and in the future.
Guardiola mentioned Grealish, who missed the trip to Fulham due to injury, as another player who appeared unstoppable last season but has fallen out of favour through no fault of his own. Other players have just performed better. Even Ederson has had to struggle to restore his position following an injury.
Perhaps this is the new reality for City regulars. Nobody is impenetrable, and players understand that if they perform well, they will maintain their jersey. Stones must react or risk a viewing brief for the remaining three finals of the season, 12 months after leading the Blues to the treble.
