JOHN STONES would love to make the most of his second chance — by playing on at Manchester City until he is 40.
The England centre-back’s time at the Etihad looked to be over when he lost his place in Pep Guardiola’s side in the summer of 2020.
Yet he is back at the heart of the champions’ defence — and looking to make history in what could be a thrilling end to the season.
It all starts with the visit of old rivals Liverpool tomorrow, when City will be aiming to keep themselves firmly in the title race.
Stones, 28, could have been forgiven for fearing days like these had gone for good when he slipped out of Guardiola’s first-choice team three years ago.
The manager picked wantaway Eric Garcia ahead of him for key games — and a few months later paid what was then a club-record £64.5million to sign Ruben Dias.
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Guardiola strongly hinted that Stones may be allowed to go that summer — but the defender was determined not to give up without a fight.
He knuckled down and won his place back and is looking to be part of a City team that makes history.
Stones said: “This is home for me now and has been for seven years — I would love to play here for as long as I can. I would even love to finish at 40 if I could.
“The time when I was out of the side was hard. I didn’t want to leave first and foremost. I didn’t want to give up.
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“I’ve always been a fighter from when I had setbacks in age groups because they said I was too small.
“I wanted to stay true to myself and show — not anyone in particular, but myself — that I could do it.
“I believe I am here for a reason and I am good enough.
“That seems a while ago now but I’m really proud of myself for what I did and what I’m doing now.
“I’m trying to go from strength to strength. I want to achieve everything I can . . . trophies, make history.”
Some might say he has done that already — as Stones is one of several players at the club to already have four Prem title medals in his back pocket.
The former Everton defender has also lifted five domestic cups with City — but says the feeling in the dressing room is that they are by no means finished.
Stones told Arab News: “We definitely want to be remembered among the great teams of the past.
“I think we have already done that with some of the milestones we’ve achieved. I’d love to be in this club’s history — and go down as maybe the best-ever team.
“That comes with time, though, and you don’t really think about that when you are in the moment.
“It happens after you finish and I will always give 110 per cent to the team, to myself — and hopefully that shows out on the pitch.”
But to have any chance of being remembered in those terms, City will have to end their long wait for a Champions League trophy.
Stones has been part of the journey that took them agonisingly close in the last couple of seasons, only to come up short both times.
They have reached the quarter-finals again but German giants Bayern Munich and then either Real Madrid or Chelsea — teams who have ended their dream in the last two years — stand in the way of reaching Istanbul in June.
But Stones said: “We can achieve whatever we want.
“We have got the ability, we’ve got the chemistry together and we all want the same thing as well, to be successful.
“We have got that hunger, which is exciting. My aim is to win the Premier League again, then to make history and win the Champions League for everyone.”
First, though, City have to get past Liverpool as the two old rivals line up for what could be another epic clash.
Stones famously produced an incredible goalline clearance to deny the Reds what could have been a crucial goal in this fixture back in January 2019.
That was a moment that cemented his place in the hearts of City fans.
And he added: “I think the fans have always had a love-love relationship with me. I can’t thank them enough.
“I hope they appreciate that I also appreciate them, I always give everything and fight right until the end.”
As well as carrying on with City for at least another decade, Stones revealed his other target is to win 100 caps.
Between November 2018 and March 2021, Stones made only two appearances for England — and did not feature at all in the last 17 months of that spell.
Stones, on 66 caps, said: “I set my goal for England at 50 caps and didn’t think I was going to get to that when I wasn’t in the squads and I was on 42.
“Now my next goal is to get 100. I’ve set the bar high, but why not? I think it’s achievable.”
Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s own England ambition has stalled.
The Liverpool right-back was left out of the last squad — and he is now concentrating on helping the sixth-placed Reds spring a surprise at City.
He said: “We’ve got it in us. We haven’t shown that this season but we’ve been together long enough to know our qualities — we know we are able to put a run of great results together.
“There’s no better way to go and start than against the reigning champs. We’re excited to go and try to get that started on Saturday.
“We’ve got our aims — to make sure that we get Champions League football for next season.
“This is a very important week to go on and secure it.
“And every time you play against Man City, the motivation is there.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
