Man City news: John Stones wants to keep improving under Pep Guardiola

While most of the focus has been on City’s attack and creative players this season, Stones has cut out the mistakes that blighted his first season at the Etihad following his £50million move from Everton. 

And his centre-back partnership with Nicolas Otamendi has not only given City a solid defensive platform but also silenced the talk that Pep Guardiola’s team cannot operate with injury-plagued skipper Vincent Kompnay.

Stones says the fact he is enjoying his football and playing in a team that has won 15 of its 16 games in all competitions, scoring 52 goals in the process, has allowed him to flourish. 

“You’ve heard it before but when you’re enjoying it and playing well, your mind is free and things come off for you,” he said.

“It’s a joy to play in this team and, when you are winning and the boys are playing as they are, it’s hard to describe.

“As defenders we want more clean sheets and we should have had one against Arsenal on Sunday – but we have stopped a top-quality strike-force really. We kept them to minimal chances.

“I want to keep improving, keep this form going and strive to keep getting better. I think I am every day.

“If I keep doing that, keep doing things right then hopefully I can stay at this level of form. Everyone would love to stay at their peak for 10 years but it’s not going to happen. Things will happen like on Sunday, I was running out with the ball and I lost it a few times but you keep going at it and keep that mental strength knowing it will come off if you keep doing it.”

The Stones-Otamendi partnership will be broken up after the international break because the Argentina player will be suspended for Manchester City's trip to Leicester after collecting his fifth yellow card of the season. 

While Stones’ form has gone under the radar this season he says the work Guardiola’s back room team have put in to help the players prepare and recover has played a huge part in their impressive run.

“A lot of it is down to the preparation and post-match,” said Stones. “The recovery we do, how we go about things in the few days before the next game, the staff keep us fit and healthy and keep that mental state, the winning run. 

“That comes from everyone, the hunger, the fight. The boys have won titles and are hungry to do it again. For people like me who haven’t won anything it’s all about progressing, getting as many points as we can and hopefully to achieve our targets which is to get silverware.”