John Stones says Pep Guardiola will improve his game after Man City move
Tuesday 9 August 2016 15:39, UK
John Stones believes the "best manager in the world" Pep Guardiola will help to improve his game after he joined Manchester City for £47.5m.
The deal for the 22-year-old makes Stones the most expensive defender in Premier League history after his move from Everton and will increase to £50m with add-ons. He will now compete for a place in the heart of City's defence.
He admits the decision to move to the Etihad was largely inspired by new boss Guardiola and he says he is grateful for the chance to play and improve under Spaniard, who won two Champions League crowns with former club Barcelona.
"I hope he can bring out everything in me," Stones told CityTV. "I always know that there's a lot of improvement for my game personally. It's 110 per cent the right decision to play under him and I'm so thankful that I'm getting the opportunity to come here and play with the best and improve day in, day out.
"He's a winner and I think that's what's going to rub off on everyone. We need to win games and I'm sure that's what will happen."
"It was the manager, it was the team. When we played City we got beat and I knew they were a good team. I've spoken to a lot of the boys here, like Joe [Hart], and they wanted me to come.
"I expressed my feelings that I wanted to come and obviously the manager was a big part of that. I want to come and help the team and help win trophies.
"I'll come and try and express myself and play how I've always been playing and I hope that's what the club has seen in me while I was playing at Everton and with England. I'm going to be as confident as I can and I'm going to do everything I can for the team to win each game."
Stones expressed disbelief about the deal and accepted it will take some time to get used to the change of surroundings, but he is keen to get started and has already set his sights on challenging for the Premier League title.
"I'm shocked and speechless. I can't really describe how I'm feeling right now," Stones said. "There's a lot of people to tell and pure excitement. I can't wait to get going. I've just rang my mum and all my family to say I can't believe that I'm here playing for such a big club and the best manager in the world.
"It all seems so surreal. It will take a few weeks to settle in and get my head around everything but I'm super excited.
"I'm looking forward to it. It's a new chapter for me personally and it's an exciting time for Man City. I think the first game on Saturday [against Sunderland] is a big one. I've been following the footsteps of pre-season and hopefully we can hit the ground running and get off to a good start. Hopefully I can help the team to win titles.
"I'm quietly confident that we'll definitely be up there. There's a lot of strong teams and everyone is buying new players. It's exciting times for everyone in the Premier League. We all know that there is no easy game so it is definitely exciting for me. I think we have such a good chance of going far and I just want to get going now. The more we talk about it the more I want it to come."
The centre-half says he spoke to fellow England internationals Hart and Raheem Sterling about the club but was already keen on a switch, with the chance to play Champions League football also coming into his thinking.
"They said we need you, we want you here and with all the boys you'll settle in quick," Stones added. "They didn't try and persuade me too much, I was kind of sold already but we get along so well so I'm sure when we're in training it'll feel like home and I've only been here a few hours but it does feel good already."
"I actually came to one of the games last season against Real Madrid and it was just pure excitement of the Champions League from watching it at home on TV to actually being at a game is a totally different experience.
"From people I have spoken to who have played in the Champions League they say it's so different and so special. I think those are the moments that I'll cherish playing in and I really want to play how I do and bring something different to the team that will take us to the next level."
