A Manchester City fan favourite will say goodbye on Sunday and his contribution to City has been immense
A Manchester City fan favourite will say goodbye on Sunday and his contribution to City has been immenseManchester City will bid farewell to a trio of club legends on Sunday following their final Premier League fixture of the 2025-26 season against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium.. Pep Guardiola, Bernardo Silva and John Stones will all be involved in their final games at City. In the case of John Stones, he has been a fan favorite throughout his decade at the club. The England international also leaves the club as a City legend, as John Stones contribution to the club in the most successful era of the clubs history has been immense. He has arguably been the most elegant City defender in and out of possession in the clubs history, and that trait was vital to what was arguably Pep Guardiolas sides greatest triumph.John Stones has established himself as a special player in the history of Manchester City.Manchester City signed John Stones from Everton in the summer of 2016. He was one of the first players signed when Pep Guardiola began his journey as Manchester City manager. Life didnt begin well at City for Stones, just like his manager. It took time for Pep Guardiolas philosophy to become embedded at City, as it did for John Stones to settle in at the club and to life playing under Pep Guardiola. Guardiola famously said in 2017 that Stones had more personality and more balls than anyone in the room after his team drew 1-1 with Liverpool in 2017. Throughout Stones time at City, Pep Guardiolas statement rang true.John Stones was a decisive player in Manchester Citys era of dominance. His ability as a ball-playing defender was a key component of Pep Guardiolas side, as was his center-back partnership with Ruben Dias. Stones gave Pep Guardiola a midfielder at centre-back. John Stones was a phenomenon in possession. Stones finest individual performance came in Manchester Citys 1-0 Champions League final win over Inter Milan in 2023. In a role that only he could play, as a centre-back who went into midfield when City had possession, Stones put in a man-of-the-match display in Istanbul. He played through the pain barrier throughout Citys treble run. His performance in Istanbul was the crowning moment of his City career.As a defender, John Stones was perfect for a Pep Guardiola side.Defensively, John Stones shone as a Pep Guardiola centre-back. Playing as a centre-back in a Guardiola side isnt simple. It is a demanding role. Stones took to it exceptionally well. In his prime, Stones was the epitome of a Guardiola defender. The England international was always there when his team needed him at the back. His ability to read the game and position himself in the optimal defensive position was a key element to Pep Guardiolas Manchester City side.John Stones goal-line clearance against Liverpool in 2019, in a vital 2-1 City win over Jurgen Klopps side, was crucial to Citys title win. If one moment summed up Stones as a centre-back, that was it. He was in the right place at the right time and made a vital contribution for his team. That was on display in that pivotal moment, as it was throughout John Stones City career.John Stones believes his time at City has showed him dreams can become reality.Like his great mate Bernardo Silva, John Stones has looked back on his time at Manchester City throughout this week. In an interview with mancity.com, Stones revealed that his time at Manchester City has taught him that nothing is impossible. Pep Guardiolas side achieved feats that were previously thought impossible. With Stones playing a vital role in that success. The England international explained: One thing you realise here is, I dont think you can say anythings impossible. Once we get something in our head and have something to work towards and achieve, its a powerful thing to have.Something that I think itll take a long time and a very special team to ever do again. It doesnt really sink in, to be honest.I think thats probably the mentality of a footballer, that theres always something next, theres always something more to aspire to achieve. More history and more dreams that have been made that I never could have imagined.Over the past decade, Pep Guardiolas Manchester City side has made an impossible dream a reality. John Stones was at the heart of it. His efforts over the past decade have earned Stones the status of a club legend at City. The Barnsley Beckenbauer will say goodbye to the club he has left a massive mark on this Sunday. The fact that he will do so alongside Pep Guardiola and Bernardo Silva is fitting. John Stones has always been a fan favourite at City, and his contribution to Citys era of dominance means that he will never lose that status.
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