Pep Guardiola can develop John Stones into the new Gerard Pique, says Gary Neville
Tuesday 16 August 2016 11:45, UK
John Stones can develop into a world-class defender under the guidance of Pep Guardiola in a similar fashion to Barcelona star Gerard Pique, according to Gary Neville.
The 22-year-old England international completed a £47.5m transfer from Everton to Manchester City last week, and made his debut in Saturday's 2-1 win over Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium.
Pique re-joined Barcelona from Manchester United as a 21-year-old in 2008 and quickly blossomed into one of the world's best centre-halves.
Neville believes Stones has similar attributes to Pique and believes Guardiola is the perfect coach to help him fulfil his potential.
Speaking on Monday Night Football, Neville said: "I'm delighted he's gone to Manchester City, to Guardiola. It's the best club for him at the moment with the manager they have.
"In the past six months there has been so much criticism of John Stones - about what he shouldn't do, about how he shouldn't play - rather than celebrating what he is, that he's willing to take big chances at the back on the ball.
"That he's willing to pass out from the back, get on the ball as deep as possible, bring other players in, play passes into midfield. There's been a lot of discouragement in the past six months.
"It reminds me of six, seven, eight years ago, a player exposed to Guardiola. It was a young Gerard Pique. You see a lot of Stones in Pique - a person who's not filled his shirt yet.
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"Pique has become a monster. He's stronger, he's taller, he's more experienced. He's been encouraged to play and to be himself.
"That's the work that's been done with him and he's obviously played in a fantastic team at Barcelona. Pep Guardiola will try to create that same type of team and player at Manchester City."
Stones, who will make his Champions League debut against Steaua Bucharest on Tuesday, is relishing the opportunity to learn from Guardiola.
"You don't often get these opportunities to work with the best manager in the world and come to a top club and play Champions League," said Stones.
"I felt it was the right time for me to move and to make progress in my career, come and learn off the best and it's a new exciting challenge for me and for everyone.
"I know I've got to fight for my place. I've come in and just tried to show what I can do for the gaffer and to everyone else.
"I want to earn my place and that's what I'm here to do - to work hard in training and to get that starting spot."
