Pep Guardiola told John Stones that Manchester City need him as they continue their hunt for silverware.
The Premier League has looked beyond the Blues for some time but they are still involved in the FA Cup and Champions League after lifting the Carabao Cup on Sunday.
Stones was a surprise inclusion in the lineup against Aston Villa, having not started since a 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace in mid-January and being left out of the matchday squad entirely against Real Madrid in midweek.
His slip at Wembley gave Aston Villa the space to score and bring themselves back into the game. However, he did not let that impact on the rest of his performance and made two important clearances in the 95th minute of the game.
For Guardiola, who gave the defender a big hug at full-time, that response was more important that the original error and challenged Stones for the rest of the season.
"That is what I am pleased about, always with the players we speak about how you react," said Guardiola. "It is easy to react well in good moments but not in bad moments.
"It was not easy for him in front of 80,000 and after that he never made one mistake, two big clearances. He’s a lovely person, he’s like Claudio - always there.
"I know he struggled a bit because he didn’t play much but we need him, he was involved in most of the titles that we won many times. When you win titles it’s because everyone is involved. It's not just 11 players. With the way Bernardo came in [off the bench] today or Raheem Sterling making a decisive action at the Bernabeu, the competition is a starting XI but everyone must be ready."
