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John Stones could be a key figure at the heart of Manchester City’s defense in the Manchester derby on Saturday. That seemed an unlikely prospect a month ago, but the central defender has regained Pep Guardiola’s confidence.
The Stones have played a significant role in four of City’s last five games, including their first Premier League starts since the first weekend of the season, and they have kept a clean sheet in each of those encounters since the loss. against Tottenham on November 21.
“He got injured and had personal problems, but now he’s resolved again … he will have a chance to show his quality on this team,” Guardiola said after the Stones’ return to the fold against Olympiakos four days after the Spurs game. .
The coach has kept his word, with Stones surprisingly displacing Aymeric Laporte alongside Ruben Dias. The 26-year-old English international came off the bench during the first half against Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday and appeared calm for an hour alongside his French teammate.
Following those performances, it seems likely that the Stones will start against Manchester United at Old Trafford, and on this week’s Pitch to Post preview podcast, Sky Sports News reporter Ben Ransom explained how the defender, who appeared to be dating. from Man City, turned everything around.
Listen to the launch of Sky Sports to publish the podcast on: Spotify | Apple | Castbox
“I think you have to give the Stones a lot of credit,” said Ransom, who covers Manchester City. “He left during the summer, when they had that lockdown period, and he worked really hard to try to get in shape and get into a position where when football could resume he would be fit and able to make the most of his step for Man City, which with Guardiola has slipped a bit.
“There is an element of trust here and I felt a certain sympathy. Guardiola, as we know, is a coach who demands absolutely 100 percent of his players at all times and is a very intense character. For some players that is a natural fit and for others it takes a little getting used to.
“I think with Stones it took a bit of getting used to. The thing about Stones is that the criticism of him was always that he had a mistake in him. And when he made that mistake, very often, unfortunately for him, City was punished. “. – and Guardiola was on the touchline, giving him both barrels each time.
“I saw City a lot when Stones was in his previous spell and you could see it every time he did something, he almost looked towards the bench, just to see what Guardiola’s reaction would be. That is not a position for any player or athlete. You can’t feel like you have the pressure of something extra on your shoulders when all you want to do is go and act.
“In fairness to the Stones, he left, got in shape, tried to put himself in a position where he wouldn’t be restricted by these pesky injuries, and came back with an attitude that said, ‘I’m going to take advantage of my time at the Man City, otherwise my time at the club is running out. ”And he has shown Guardiola that, for the moment, he is in better shape than Aymeric Laporte, of whom we spoke earlier. Year was the fact that he was lost and the great loss that was.
“So he’s already outplayed who we thought was his best central defender because of the way he played, and that’s why he’s kept his place.
“He deserves a lot of credit and I think he will return to the England team if he continues on that line.”
The five clean sheets in a row for City and the improvement of the defense
Stones has not played for his country since November 2019 and is currently in 39 caps, but his most immediate concern will be maintaining his place on this city team and adding to the top five trophies he has won with the club since joining. in 2016.
The Stones have started just 15 of a possible 48 Premier League games since last season, and now consistency is key. However, it has helped by playing on a bottom line that has been significantly toughened.
“Ruben Dias has adapted very quickly,” Ransom said. “City are very, very happy with that signing, and Laporte is gaining minutes, there is no doubt that he will be the player he was again, they are just trying to get him back in some form.
“Defensively, City look really, really good. They haven’t conceded now in five games, haven’t conceded a goal in 475 minutes – Giovanni Lo Celso for Spurs was the last goal they conceded.
“They have done very well on that front and that is a criticism that has been leveled at this team before: they cannot defend properly.
“Well actually, they have started to show that they are building a proper bottom line again that could, could, win back the Premier League title.”
Will the Stones be a regular fixture on that bottom line? An impressive performance in the Manchester derby could set you on track for a sustained streak of games on this improving side of the City …
Launch-to-post preview: Man Utd v Man City preview; Plus Tottenham analysis, Arsenal attack and Liverpool strength in depth
This week, on the Pitch to Post preview podcast, Peter Smith joins Sky Sports News reporters James Cooper and Ben Ransom to discuss the Manchester derby, including whether David de Gea will be eliminated, why John Stones is back on the city side and how it could all turn out.
Your colleague Miguel Bridge is on the line to discuss Crystal Palace vs table tops Tottenham, plus Sky Sports Data Editor Adam blacksmith has the numbers behind From Arsenal attack and Liverpool’s strength in depth, as well as his pitch for what will happen in the Premier League this weekend!
Listen to the launch of Sky Sports to publish the podcast on: Spotify | Apple | Castbox
Source: m.allfootballapp.com
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