Yahoo Sports It’s time for one Manchester City centre-back to stand up and be counted
Manchester City face a crucial Champions League fixture against Club Brugge this week. The equation is simple for Pep Guardiola’s side. Win and they progress to the knockout stage of the competition. Lose or draw and they will embarrassingly exit the Champions League early. City simply must win at the Etihad on Wednesday evening. For John Stones, he simply must stand up and be counted this week. He simply has to if his team is to beat Club Brugge at the Etihad.
Ever since his stunning 22/23 season, John Stones has consistently battled injury. His 23/24 season was wrecked by niggling injuries. It has been a similar story this season. It’s always felt like one step forward and two steps back regarding Stones’ fitness. But he is fit now and will have a crucial role to play against Club Brugge on Wednesday.
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With Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake out with injury John Stones will more than likely start alongside Manuel Akanji at centre-back at the Etihad. Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis are ineligible for City’s crucial Champions League fixture. Simply put Stones must stand up for his team. He played well against Chelsea after he replaced Abdukodir Khusanov in the second half of City’s win. John Stones finally looked fit and ready to contribute during the second half of the season. The hope is that Stones is now over his injury issues and can play a full 90 minutes against Club Brugge.
Pep Guardiola knows that John Stones will have a crucial role to play against Club Brugge. Speaking after his team’s win over Chelsea, Guardiola told the media: “Ruben is not there, Nathan either. We are lucky Manu stayed fit and John can help us in our final on Wednesday. There are players who are reliable and ones who have more injuries than other ones. Hopefully, now, this time he [Stones] recovers better, we give him more time, he played really good this 35, 40 minutes and has to make an effort for Wednesday.”
John Stones must stand up for his team this week. We have seen him do it throughout his Manchester City career when he is fit. Circumstances have ensured that Stones should start against Club Brugge. If he plays as we know he can he could help guide his team to a precious victory over Club Brugge. That is why Manchester City need Stones to stand up and perform at the Etihad on Wednesday evening.
