When Manchester City marched towards the Premier League title, it was Aymeric Laporte and Vincent Kompany leading the charge from the back.
The fact that Pep Guardiola dropped John Stones when he needed leadership and composure was a sub-plot of the title race that perhaps went under the radar. But the issue was firmly thrown into the spotlight as Stones' individual error cost England in the Nations League shortly after City lifted the title in Brighton.
Stones insisted that the main focus was on the team in the title race, but the blow of being overlooked for so many important games clearly took their toll.
Over the summer, Stones reflected on his last few months for club and country, with his comments suggesting confidence in his ability but an acceptance that Guardiola made the right call.
"I think the last two months were frustrating, but any player not playing is frustrated," he said. "I had the mindset to keep fighting and fight for my place. Then it's down to the manager then to choose his side.
"You have to respect that. I wanted to come on and try to affect any game that I could when I came on, however many minutes I got. It's about the team and not about John Stones or whoever's playing.
"It's about the team and that's why we won four trophies last season. It shows the strength of the squad and the selflessness of the squad in that respect. That's why we were so successful."
After his England mistake, Stones vowed to use the experience to make him stronger.
He explained: "I have to live with that but I'm proud of what the team did and what we achieved. But I'll come back fighting stronger and I'm positive I will do."
It's an admirable approach from Stones, who started City's first two games of the season against Liverpool in the Community Shield and at West Ham in the Premier League. With Kompany departed, Stones appeared to have stepped up in Guardiola's thinking.
But injury has kept him out of the next three games, and when he returns after the international break there will be another defender missing around the CFA as Aymeric Laporte has been sidelined with injury.
Stones will have to shoulder City's heavy schedule alongside Nicolas Otamendi - with the likes of Fernandinho, Kyle Walker and Eric Garcia expected to deputise along the way.
It won't be the circumstances Stones would like, but if his comments about being dropped last season were a plea for more responsibility, he now has a perfect opportunity to step up and become Guardiola's first choice centre-back.
Laporte is not expected back before January, so Stones has a big task ahead to shoulder City's defensive responsibilities in three separate competitions before the FA Cup third round in the new year. It could be a turning point in his career, and his relationship with Guardiola, if he rises to the challenge.
