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John Stones: I’ve had dark days at Man City – I thought my career was over

John Stones suffered “dark days” last season after a series of injuries led him to question whether his career might be over.

Going into the final year of his deal at Manchester City, the fit-again 31-year-old made clear he had no intention of leaving and would, at least, see out the remainder of his contract, making it a decade since he joined.

“I’m here, I want to stay here, I love it,” Stones said when asked about his future at a quickly evolving City. “I’m here to help the team, and I don’t know if what’s been said or speculated, but I hope that kind of shuts it down.”

Stones has endured a horrific time with injuries, suffering a series of set-backs having damaged his foot, then thigh and hamstring problems. He has not played since coming off early in the Champions League exit to Real Madrid in February.

Stones is now fit and part of City’s squad for the Club World Cup, which continues against the Abu Dhabi club Al Ain on Sunday evening here in Atlanta, even if Pep Guardiola has remained cautious and suggested the defender is not yet fit enough to start.

John Stones goes off injured during Manchester City's defeat to Real Madrid in February

John Stones cuts a dejected figure after another injury setback, against Real Madrid in February - Getty Images/Robbie Jay Barratt

Stones said he is “raring” to go but also opened up on the frustration he has felt at having suffered so many fitness issues.

“There’s been points where you think, you’ve been giving all this effort, you dedicate all your life, especially how I approach or go about my life, and football, I give everything, on and off the pitch to be here or be ready to play games and those are the dark days,” Stones said.

“I think everyone’s been through them and think, ‘why is this happening?’ You wish it would have gone a different path. But, like I said, it’s self-doubt, there’s a lot of things.

“All of us have been through different upbringings and challenges through life and what did we do within those situations; was it fight or was it give up? I was a fighter from a young age. In difficult moments you have to look at the bigger picture and realise what are your morals, what you believe in, and fight to make it worthwhile.”

John Stones warms up before Manchester City's opening Club World Cup win against Wydad AC in Philadelphia on June 18

Stones says his fitness issues have taken a heavy mental toll - Shutterstock/Will Oliver

Even so, Stones admitted the injuries had affected him “mentally” as he worked with City’s medical staff to find out why he was having so many problems.

“I wish I had the answer and we all had the answer. It is frustrating for me, I put a lot of pressure on myself,” he said. “I find it very challenging mentally. I have had some very low points in the past season and I just have to come back and once you come over those things, you can’t really see the end of the tunnel when they keep happening,

“And it’s frustrating on the team, on myself, on the manager, that you’re not available to help them. And you’ve got to find another way to be around the team.

“I’ve been here long enough now. I’ve been around football long enough to know that I can offer something else within those times and look for a positive in those situations. And it’s difficult, I think that’s the long and short of it, and I’ve got to learn from that. And I think it’ll make me stronger in the long run.”

Part of the frustration, Stones explained, is not knowing why he has suffered the injuries. “I don’t know what the reason is and we’ve sat with the medical staff, sports science, to try and figure out why,” he said. “Some things can’t be explained. Which is even more testing mentally when there’s not really an answer. I’ve been unlucky with some of the injuries that I’ve had. They were very rare last season, after speaking to specialists.

“Sometimes I think: why has it happened to me? But I’ve got to deal with that and move forward and try to adapt with how my body’s adapting. As I said, I feel great, I’m back fit, ready to help the team when called upon. I think this season I’ve got to look more detailed into training, things that I can do off the pitch that I can sustain playing a lot more games.”

John Stones defends against Raheem Sterling in August 2015 at Goodison Park

Stones’ cultured performances for Everton prompted City to sign him in 2016 - Reuters/Andrew Yates

Stones signed for City in August 2016 from Everton in a deal worth £47.5million with Guardiola saying the pair had been through a lot together.

“Since I arrived, he arrived. The many good things and the sad things we lived together, we share it,” the City manager said. “He’s a sensitive person. He’s an incredible human being. Incredible…I see him suffer because he cannot be working for ages and ages and ages. It’s important, it’s not sad. But the important thing now is, you know, at training sessions, he feels better.”

Stones agreed and added that far from being physically and mentally tired – as many of his City team-mates will inevitably be during this tournament and after such a gruelling season – he is fresh.

“It’s difficult when you’re injured. You almost work longer and more. So from that aspect I know the guys mentally and physically have had such a long season. (But) I suppose mentally for me it’s been difficult dealing with the injuries and the process. Now I’ve put that behind me and used this as a mini-introduction back before the new season and another trophy for us to hopefully win and get some game time,” Stones said.

Pep Guardiola embraces John Stones as Manchester City celebrate winning the FA Cup in 2023

Stones was one of Pep Guardiola’s first major signings for City, and the Spaniard acknowledges the pair have been through a lot together at the club - Reuters/Carl Recine

Even so during the “dark days” he has had to draw deep on his own resilience.

“I think we all self-doubt as players and feel things and we want to get back as quick as possible, maybe that’s a downfall sometimes that you try and push too soon,” Stones said. “Definitely family, I think that’s my biggest thing, being around them and having their support. You can feel very lonely at times when you’re training by yourself and that’s the difficult part of it, being in a team sport, not training with the team when you run out of the pitch in your rehab.

“So, a lot of things that you’ve got to get used to and deal with and try and set yourself goals to come back and it’s been a challenge. I am over that hurdle.”

Vitor Reis in action against Wydad AC

New City arrival Vitor Reis, pictured in action at the Club World Cup, provides more competition at centre-back - Getty Images/Roger Wimmer

Stones is returning to a quickly changing City, as the club attempts to move on from the failures of the last season with four new signings in June – including two centre-halves in Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov – who were bought in January. It has added to the competition Stones is ready to face in what is, at present, an enlarged squad.

“It’s a great challenge for us all. Fighting for a starting place. Fighting for titles again,” he said of the “super-healthy” competition for places. “Everything moves on in life and in football. The club has had to make those decisions and bring new people in. They’ve been great so far. I can’t speak highly enough of them… We want to raise each other’s standards every day and keep pushing each other. It’s quite rare in football to have the squad we have. Incredible players want the best for each other. That’s something we’ve done over the years and made us successful.”

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