John Stones: Pep Guardiola helped me understand football as Man City boss | OneFootball

John Stones has revealed that Pep Guardiola transformed his understanding of football at Manchester City.

Sunday’s final Premier League game of the season marks the end of an era at City, with defender Stones and captain Bernardo Silva to make their farewell appearances.

There are also strong reports Guardiola will stand down after a decade at the Etihad Stadium, bringing one of the most successful managerial reigns in English football history to an end.

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Stones felt Guardiola’s system suited his game perfectly (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Wire)

Stones and Guardiola both arrived in the summer of 2016 and the centre-back, who has played 294 times for the club, thrived under Guardiola’s possession-based philosophy.

Stones, 31, told the club’s media channels: “I think when I look back at when I first came, I wasn’t a player that was a typical kind of centre-half.

“I was maybe built for how football is now, but 10 years ago Pep saw that and everyone kind of got behind me, and I felt it was the right way to play football.

“I think the word genius comes about, but how he sees the game is totally different. That was one of the things when I came. I thought I knew football but I realised quickly I didn’t.”

City have won 20 trophies under Guardiola, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League, and those achievements will be celebrated as the campaign ends with a visit from Aston Villa.

One of the obvious highlights of Stones’ time at City was the treble-winning campaign of 2022-23, which they completed with victory over Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul.

Stones excelled in a defensive midfield role and the freedom Guardiola gave him made it one of the most enjoyable periods of his career.

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Winning the Champions League was a career highlight (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Archive)

He said: “I was just loving it. I love that role, I wish I could play it every week, a new role that was almost created and the freedom that I had, the space to go and express myself in a different way, the different outlook it brought on our team, the different ways to beat teams. I honestly loved it.

“To have the impact that I did, especially in the final, was something that I’m so proud of and I’d love to relive it.”

Stones began his career at Barnsley before moving to Everton and then joining City in a £47.5million deal.

His future remains unclear but City will always hold a special place in his heart.

He said: “I don’t know how to put it into words but just the love that I have for the place and everyone, how happy I am here. I’ve said it before but it’s my home and home’s always the best place, isn’t it?”