Stones: Treble success would be ‘super sweet’

John Stones ( left of picture) says Champions League success with Manchester City would complete the turnaround from a spell that cast his future at the club into doubt, explaining that he opted to prove himself rather than leave when seemingly out in the cold.

Three years ago, Stones’ prospects at City looked distinctly uncertain. He had slipped down the pecking order but has bounced back to become a pillar of the treble chasers’ side, recently blossoming as a deep-lying midfielder. “If I hopefully look back after Saturday with a winner’s medal … it will be super sweet,” he said.

Stones is completing his seventh season at City but was linked with a move away in the summer of 2020.

“It was one of the hardest times in my career,” he said. “I went back to looking at myself and what I could do better. That’s come down to doing stuff [at the training ground] and then going home and doing work, even late at night. [A] big learning curve for me and maybe who I am today.” Nick Ames