John Stones likes nothing better than his football doing his talking for him and his achievements slipping under the radar.
As the Manchester City star stands on the cusp of a fifth Premier League winners’ medal, a second Champions League final in three years and the chance to post a historic domestic and European treble, there’s still no sign of an ego, rather a pervading sense that there’s still unfinished business.
At 28 – he turns 29 on the final day of the Premier League season when City play at Brentford – he’s morphed into the perfect senior professional as typified by his starring role in the dismantling of Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.
The weight of being labelled the “Barnsley Beckenbauer” from a young age is laughed off even as he moves seamlessly from central defender, to right back and higher up the pitch as an inverted defender or auxiliary midfielder with whom even the best struggle to cope.
Currently riding high as City’s Player of the Month and near cult status among the Premier League champions’ fans, Stones is still all about the pursuit of excellence and most of all spending time with his young family – the latest addition to which arrived earlier this year.
It’s not all been plain sailing for the likeable Yorkshireman, who joined City from Everton as – along with Ilkay Gundogan – one of Pep Guardiola’s first signings in August 2016.
Along the way he has had injuries to contend with and a loss of form and confidence that saw him fall out of favour with Guardiola, stalled his England ambitions and led to talk of him moving on from City.
Man City 4 Real Madrid 0: Player ratings
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MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 8. He was a spectator in the first half but came up with a big save when Alaba hit a swerving freekick just after the restart. Denied Real's hopes of a late comeback with a double save to deny Benzema and Cabellos in the 83rd minute. EPA -
Kyle Walker - 8. Had the upper hand in the highly anticipated battle with Vinicius on the right flank. Showed excellent pace to get back and make a remarkable recovery tackle with through on goal on the half hour. EPA -
Ruben Dias - 7. Hardly tested in defence and did his part in helping to keep the away side’s attack quiet. Picked up the first yellow card when he stopped Rodrygo from running through on goal after the restart. AP -
Manuel Akanji - 8. His header back across the face of goal was almost turned in by Haaland in the 22nd minute. Almost made it three for City with a shot that Alaba blocked on the stroke of half-time. Had a hand in the third as his glancing header got deflected into the net by Militao. Reuters -
John Stones - 7. Dovetailed nicely alongside Rodri at the base of the City midfield and helped mop up loose balls. Had a pop at goal from over 25 yards out in the 11th minute, but his effort failed to trouble Courtois. Reuters -
Rodri - 8. Superb in the middle of the field and helped the home side control proceedings. His cross-turned-shot flashed across the face of the post in the seventh minute. Reuters -
Bernardo Silva - 9. Opened the scoring with a well-taken left-footed effort from close range in the 23rd minute. Doubled City's lead with a header in the 37th minute. Superb. Reuters -
Kevin De Bruyne - 8. Central to everything positive the home side did in the final third. Created the first goal with a simple pass into the pass of Bernardo Silva that caught the Real defenders off guard. EPA -
Ilkay Gundogan - 7. Not as effective as he was at the weekend, when he scored two goals, but still played well. His saved effort was deflected into the path of Silva to head home. Reuters -
Jack Grealish - 7. Not as effective as Silva on the opposite flank, but played his part by keeping Carvajal pinned back and unable to join the attack. Had Carvajal on toast all game. EPA -
Erling Haaland - 7. Forced Courtois into two good saves. On one occasion, did well to dribble past the goalkeeper but failed to find a blue shirt in the penalty area with his cutback. EPA -
SUBS: Riyad Mahrez (Gundogan 79') - N/A. Involved in the build-up that led to the home side’s fourth goal. Getty -
Phil Foden (De Bruyne 84') - 7. Made his mark on the march by assisting Alvarez to make it four for City. Getty -
Julian Alvarez (Haaland 89') - 7. Rounded up the win with a well-taken effort to make it four in added time. PA -
REAL MADRID RATINGS: Thibaut Courtois - 7. Made a save from point-blank range to deny Haaland in the 13th minute. Provided a breathtaking save to stop Haaland’s header in the soon after. Denied Haaland again when one on one in the 72nd minute. PA -
Dani Carvajal - 4. Had a hard time dealing with the threat of Grealish all game and could have offered more in attack. Reuters -
Eder Militao - 4. Intercepted a cross intended for Haaland in the fourth minute. Unfortunate to turn the ball into his net off an Akanji header in the 76th minute. Getty -
David Alaba - 5. Made a goalline clearance to stop Haaland’s effort in the 13th minute. Almost gave the away side a lifeline with a freekick that forced Ederson into a great save in the second half. Reuters -
Eduardo Camavinga - 3. A terrible match for Camavinga at left-back. He found it tough to deal with the nimble-footed Silva and got caught out of position for both of his goals in the first half. AP -
Federico Valverde - 4. The least effective of Madrid‘s midfielders in the game. He struggled to get involved in the play. Getty -
Toni Kroos - 5. Part of a dysfunctional midfield. Hit the crossbar with a typical Kroos shot from long-range in the 34th minute. AP -
Luka Modric - 6. Not the best of days for Modric at the Etihad. Still looked the most likely to make something happen among the midfield trio. Getty -
Rodrygo - 5. A toothless performance from Rodrygo on the right flank. He looked likelier to create something when he played more central in the second half. EPA -
Karim Benzema - 3. An ineffective performance from Benzema on a night when Real looked to the captain for inspiration. Had his first shot on target in the 83rd minute. EPA -
Vinicius Junior - 5. Found the going tough against an inspired Walker at right back. Had an air-shot when he had the chance to side-foot Rodrygo’s cutback in the 60th minute. Getty -
SUBS: Antonio Rudiger (Modric 63') - 5. Came on and helped improve the away side’s defence in the second half. Reuters -
Marco Asensio (Kroos 71') - N/A. Brought on with the hope of helping to inspire another historic comeback, Asensio failed to make the desired impact. AP -
Aurelian Tchouameni (Camavinga 80') - N/A. Came on late and struggled to get involved. EPA -
Dani Cabellos (Rodrygo 80') - N/A. Saw his attempt saved by Ederson in the 83rd minute. Getty -
Lucas Vazquez (Carvajal 80') - N/A. Could do little to stop the home side in his time on the pitch. EPA
Much soul-searching followed and a return to basics that have now made him indispensable to both club and country.
The good alongside the bad in the last six years has imbued him with a maturity that allows him to be a senior professional and to a greater understanding of what others are going through.
“The lowest point was definitely in 2019. It was difficult, everyone knew and saw what was happening but I still loved coming in and I knew I had to fight and get a place back and earn that trust,” he said.
“I also had to prove things to myself. I wasn’t getting picked at City or for England. I had to go back to basics and look at what I could do to improve. I looked at even the smallest things.
“I looked at what I was doing away from football. I’m now training more, I looked at eating and sleeping habits, and the way I recovered. I looked at everything in a bid to improve and it paid off. I’m still exploring those margins that can help me get better.”
Since that time of reflection, Stones has taken his game and his versatility to new levels bagged more titles and been a lynch-pin in two major tournaments with England.
“The past three years, including this year, I’d say I’ve been quite consistent in my game and progressing all the time,” he added.
“That’s the key. as you are always looking to learn and evolve as a player. I feel as if I have done that. Enjoying it is the main thing. I have enjoyed it here at City since the day I signed.”
A big percentage of that enjoyment is growing as a performer on the pitch where he is currently occupying a hybrid position part-defence and part-midfield.
“This new role comes about because the game has evolved, it is us adapting to other teams and how we feel we can best beat them,” said Stones.
“It started with different players moving inside from a right back or left back position and we changed that to push full-backs higher and went as a three at the back and then I moved into central-midfield from a centre-half position.
“I’m really enjoying getting on the ball and trying to make things happen. I just want to show my qualities for the team and then defensively when we get back into a different shape play as a centre half.
“I wouldn’t say it's easy to do but what I would say is that the manager makes it easy for us in the respect of how he tells you what he wants from you and what to do. Then it is about trusting yourself and the players around you.
“The manager wouldn’t ask you to do something you can’t do. Pep is really knowledgeable about players’ strengths and weaknesses and what he asks of the players. That’s why all the people who he has brought into the club fit in so well.
“It’s good for me to learn parts of the game from a different perspective as a centre-half learning what a midfielder does and when it's optimal to receive the ball, it gives me a better understanding of how the team ticks.”
Stones thrives on responsibility and being part of a team and though he doesn’t actively seek out being a dressing room influencer he is at a stage where he is adept at using his seniority and employing empathy when and where it’s needed. He is there and available should anyone need a word.
“As players we feed off each other,” he said. “It’s really about guiding youngsters and letting them express themselves as well. I am not one to shout and be a big speaker in the dressing room when it’s not the right time.
“I feel I pick my moments to speak to the guys who need an arm around them or who maybe need a bit of advice. I feel my own experiences mean that I am quite good at knowing the timings of when to approach different personalities.
“Everyone has an expectation of themselves about what is wanted and when they don’t hit that level it can become difficult and you kind of have to see the bigger picture. The ability to do that comes with the experience of going through these things.
“We’ve got incredible talent in our young players at City – Rico Lewis has shown that this season – and it's all about helping them. Why it is so special here is that no matter what age you are or what you’ve done in your career when you are on the training pitch everyone gives everything.
“Everyone is equal. It’s not hierarchical here at all. We are definitely one unit. Everyone is with us for a reason and all the young players that train with the first team are there for a reason – because they have the quality and attributes to be there – and we can all see that.
“To be in our team everyone has to be wanting the ball and willing to do the hard yards without the ball. That’s why we are so special as a team.”
Despite that abundance of talent and how it is sometimes perceived, Stones is adamant that winning is never easy no matter the opponent or the competition.
“Winning trophies doesn’t get easier,” he insisted. “However, what I have learnt from previous years is that the more you win trophies the more you are motivated to win more.
“There’s nothing like that feeling. There's hunger. The hunger and wanting that winning feeling more and more – that’s why you are a player!
“I think realising and recognising situations and experiences that you’ve been through before makes it more comfortable to be in certain situations at the end of a season. We know how to keep cool heads and then it’s about us delivering.
“There are no easy games at all. We are so good at showing respect to every team we play no matter what competition. I think that is a vital part of our game.
“We are humble enough to know and respect our opponents and then able to go out there and do our job. We know what is expected of us and we know what we are capable of.”
Even now with so much within touching distance, Stones doesn’t let his mind wander or focus slacken.
“While you are still in a season and it’s not done there is a lot to think about so it's not until the end of the season you can look back and ask yourself: ‘Did I give everything I could,’” he said.
“Then if you have won a trophy or trophies you can be proud of yourself and your teammates and what you achieved. Only then can you have a bit of reflection and perspective. And a rest!”
