Pep Guardiola has spoken of the importance of John Stones with the 2025/26 campaign now firmly on the horizon.
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City see off Palermo challenge to win Anglo Palermitan Trophy](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/palermo-anglo-palermitan-trophy-match-report-63890359)
City beat fellow CFG club Palermo 3-0 in the final friendly before the real stuff begins at Wolves next Saturday.
Stones played the first 45 minutes in Sicily before a raft of changes in the second half as the Blues finished their pre-season schedule in the best way possible.
The 31-year-old centre-half, who has won 15 trophies in just under a decade in Manchester, struggled with his fitness this past campaign, making just 20 appearances.
And with another season set to start at Molineux very soon, Guardiola has reiterated his admiration for the classy defender and the significance of having him available on a regular basis.
“Massively,” said the boss when quizzed about the importance of having Stones fit.
“In the years of the Treble and quadruple, John Stones was massively important for us.
“He is a top class player but last season he played less than 30 per cent of the games for us. He was injured a lot of time.
“What we want is for him to be fit. He didn’t play much in the Club World Cup. He played the first 45 minutes here and it’s step by step because we need him.
“We have good central defenders but we need him.”
Watch the manager’s interview in the video player above.