John Stones talks about his near-retirement last year! | OneFootball

Last season was incredibly tough for me—so much so that I thought about stopping. I didn't want to do it. I just grew tired of always being professional, trying to do everything right, and then getting injured again without any answers as to why.

It was a really difficult situation. There comes a point when you just don't understand why it's happening. And it's even harder when you're putting in so much effort, doing everything right, being as professional as possible to play and be ready. It would be easier if you could say, 'I didn't do this or that, that's the problem.' But when you're doing everything right and it still happens, it's psychologically very tough. I hope I never have to go through that again. My emotions were running high back then.

I wasn't thinking clearly. Deep down, I probably never would have done it—never truly retired. When a few years ago City wanted me to find a new challenge, I said, 'I will fight.' That's all I've known since childhood, so why stop now? I still have that fighting spirit and bdwinning mentality that won't let me quit.

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