Pep Guardiola has warned John Stones to be consistent for the next decade or the Manchester City centre-back will not fulfil his potential.
Stones has become first choice again with resurgent form that has impressed the manager. Yet although the 26-year-old is the regular partner of Rúben Dias in central defence, Guardiola was circumspect regarding his future.
“He’s played really well and that gives you confidence,” the manager said. “He’s a guy who is so sensible and that helps to be focused on what we have to do. My only advice to him is that what he’s gained right now, in the way he lives his life and how he takes care of himself – his body, his mind, everything – he’s got to keep that for the next 10 years, 12 years here; with me or without me – with other managers.
“The moment that drops he will not be consistent but if he can avoid injuries he can be the player we’ve always believed he can be. This is one of the best [periods for him], yes, he’s given us a good feeling, but it’s just two or three games. A defender has to be consistent all season.”
City’s draw 1-1 with West Brom on Tuesday places them eight points behind Liverpool and Guardiola stated before Saturday’s game at Southampton that they must go on a winning run if a title challenge is to be mounted.
“We know that we have to start to win games and games,” he said. “If not, it will not be possible. We know it. There are eight teams in front of us. We have [played] a game less but you still have to win it. So we have to start to win games in a row to be there at the end.”
Guardiola said he does not need to buy a replacement for Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Agüero despite City’s poor goal return this season.
After 12 Premier League matches City have scored only 18 times, well below their return at the same stage of each of the past three campaigns. Last term the count at this stage was 35, two years ago 36 and three years ago 38.
Guardiola was asked whether there may come a time when he has to sign a striker. “Absolutely not,” the manager said. “The last 32 or 33 games we played, Sergio played four or five [because of injury] – so not much. Gabriel has incredible numbers; in terms of goals to minutes since he came to the Premier League, he is one of the top three or four in history.”
Agüero’s goal every 108 minutes is a competition record and Jesus’s ratio of one every 140 minutes places him eighth on the all-time list. Of Jesus, Guardiola said: “He is a guy who scores goals but it is not just on his shoulders. We took 13 corners in the last game [1-1 against West Brom]. The central defenders can score too – anyone can score. They all have responsibility. Everybody is involved to try to win the game.
“They are not lacking confidence, they have incredible personalities, talent. We have to be positive, aggressive, show no fear and try to score. We have to insist, insist and insist [keep trying]: there’s no other way. If 25 shots is not enough, we need to create more chances.
“We have to be positive, one day [the dam] will break. Be aggressive, put more players there. Compared to the last three seasons, we have to score more. Last season we were the team who scored most, even more than the champions [Liverpool] but unfortunately we conceded too many.”
Agüero made a 14-minute substitute appearance against West Brom but was unable to train until Friday, making him a doubt for Saturday’s trip to Southampton.
