Manchester City defender John Stones arrived at the World Cup hoping to prove his fitness but has not been used much
Thomas Tuchel
Thomas Tuchel(Image: Getty Images)
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There was sadness and regret at Manchester City to see John Stones leaving the club this summer. A player whose highs were higher than most in a star-studded squad, and who clicked with the fanbase from his first day in 2016 had talked about wanting to retire at the Etihad, yet in the end he wasn't even offered a contract beyond this summer.
That was a reflection of the injury troubles that have frustrated everyone, not least the player, for the best part of two years. What made it more difficult for Blues was that Stones had an immaculate playing record with England, his body rising to the occasion for international tournaments in a way that it couldn't for City's biggest games.
England manager Thomas Tuchel has long been convinced enough by Stones to include him in his squad for the World Cup whatever his fitness. And when the 32-year-old joined up with the squad this summer, he indicated that he had been more available over the last 12 months than Pep Guardiola had suggested with the defender at a loss over why he had played so scarcely.
“I was fit enough 100 per cent," he told BBC Sport last month. "It comes down to various things, the manager Guardiola and that’s something I can’t control and I think it’s always difficult to pick an XI and I say to this to him.
“He knows how much I wanted to play, how much I wanted to be there and you can look at it in so many ways. I think I feel as good as I’ve ever been before a tournament.”
A few weeks on though and it seems as though Tuchel has come to the same conclusion that City reluctantly ended up with. England's defence hasn't been brilliant regardless of who has been in it, yet since the opening win over Croatia the only game Stones has been picked for has been Panama when qualification had already been secured.
For the first knockout round, Marc Guehi - the man who effectively replaced Stones at City in the second half of last season - was preferred to partner Ezri Konsa. If it is the same against Mexico on Sunday, Stones will have to accept a new role with the national team as well.
There has been little noise around where Stones will play his football next season and beyond. It is perfectly possible that the centre-back finds a club where he can show his best on a weekly basis and reminds everyone that he can still be the defender he was; everyone at City will hope so.
As difficult as it was for Blues to see him leave though, Tuchel making the same calls as Guardiola - and with worse options to call on in doing so - suggests it was the right call.