Manchester City defender John Stones has openly admitted that finishing third in the Premier League last season was “not good enough” for a team of City’s stature. Speaking candidly during a pre-season media session, the England international acknowledged the disappointment of falling behind title winners Liverpool and runners-up Arsenal in the 2024/25 campaign.
“It was humbling for us after all the success that we’ve had,” Stones said. “It makes us realise what we’ve done, what we’ve achieved over the years and how proud we should be, but we’re obviously frustrated at what we did last season. It’s not what we want to replicate.”
The 31-year-old reflected on the narrow gap between City and Arsenal, who finished just a few points ahead. “To finish third, three or four points behind Arsenal is – to our standards – not good. It’s not how we played through the season. We’ve got to put that right and get back to our identity,” he stressed.
City Ready for Redemption: “We’ve Got Fire in Our Bellies”
Despite the setback, Stones is confident that the hunger to reclaim the title is burning within the squad. As the team resumes pre-season activities, the experienced centre-back said he had already noticed a renewed drive among his teammates.
“I’m sure we’ll find that and bring it back because it was tough last season to go through what we did,” Stones noted. “We’ve definitely come back with that fire in our bellies to go and achieve.”
City’s domestic dominance had seen them lift four consecutive league titles prior to last season. Now, the squad is channeling that disappointment into motivation for a strong return, with Stones urging a return to City’s high standards of play, consistency, and belief.
“We need to get back to winning matches and having that presence about us. Believing in ourselves as a team is key – that’s what made us successful and what we’ve got to rediscover,” he said.
Stones Clears the Air on Future Amid Contract Speculation
There had been rumours swirling around Stones’ future at the club, particularly as he enters the final year of his contract. However, the former Everton defender firmly shut down any talk of a potential departure.
“It’s laughable to me. I understand why people do it but there’s nothing to comment on,” Stones said of the speculation. “I love it here, nothing’s happening. I’m here to fight and play and hopefully win some trophies.”
Although he was not featured during City’s Club World Cup campaign due to fitness concerns, Stones reiterated his commitment to the club. His presence in training and public events with the squad have been interpreted as signs that his loyalty remains with the Etihad outfit.
New Season, New Faces: Squad Evolution Underway
Manchester City’s squad has undergone significant changes ahead of the new season, with Stones welcoming the influx of new talent. Summer signings Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Tijjani Reijnders were all integrated during the Club World Cup campaign.
“They’ve been great. It takes a bit of time, obviously, to get used to the style of play and what’s expected, but the guys have come in for a reason,” Stones said. “With the quality they’ve got, they bring different aspects to the game than what we’ve had before.”
These new additions complement the January arrivals of Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Vitor Reis, forming part of a broader squad refresh orchestrated by manager Pep Guardiola as City prepares to mount a fresh challenge across all competitions.
Looking Ahead: Pre-Season, Palermo Friendly, and Wolves Opener
City’s pre-season continues to build momentum with an open training session held at the Joie Stadium, where Stones spoke alongside the club’s women’s team. The event provided fans with a glimpse of the club’s preparations ahead of their next friendly fixture against Palermo on Saturday.
The Premier League champions of 2023/24 will then turn their attention to their opening league fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on August 16. For Stones and his teammates, the mission is clear: reclaim their dominance and bring the Premier League trophy back to the Etihad.
“Things evolve, football evolves,” Stones reflected. “I’m excited to play with the new guys and see what they do. But more importantly, we all want to win again. That’s the goal.”
