MX23RW : Friday, November 8 10:39:16| >> :120:7449:7449:

Pep Guardiola: 'John Stones needed time to settle at Manchester City'

Guardiola: 'Stones needed time to settle'
© SilverHub
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says that defender John Stones has now settled into life at the Etihad Stadium after an indifferent first season.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has claimed that John Stones has needed time to settle at the Etihad Stadium after a big-money move from Everton.

Stones endured an indifferent first campaign with City, but the defender has been excellent since the start of the current season with six clean sheets being recorded in 11 Premier League games.

Guardiola has suggested that players no longer get a period to ease into life at a new club, but the Spaniard has acknowledged that it was difficult for Stones to make the transition after leaving the Toffees.

The 46-year-old is quoted by Sky Sports News as saying: "We cannot forget that last season was the first time he was able to play three games a week, because Everton play once a week. Here, he immediately plays Champions League, and you need a process to settle that.

"To play in the Champions League, you have to live the experience. To be better playing in the Champions League, you have to play a lot of games. They have a lot of skills and talent when you buy them, but you have to live situations to realise, 'ok, I can handle this'.

"For that, you need time. I agree in football today you don't have time."

Stones has scored five times in 58 appearances for City in all competitions since August 2016.

ID:312133: cacheID:312133:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2174:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Pep Guardiola gesticulates during the Premier League game between Manchester City and Burnley on October 21, 2017
Read Next:
Pep Guardiola: 'Man City can do better'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Bengals
34-35
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!