Stones must fight for his place, says Man City boss Guardiola

Pep Guardiola has laid down a gauntlet to John Stones, urging he young defender to fight for his place in the Manchester City side.

Stones watched from the bench on Saturday. as club captain Vincent Kompany made an impressive and injury-free return to the side in the 3-0 FA Cup win at Crystal Palace.

Stones, as well as several other Blues defenders and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, has received his share criticism for sub-par performances in a shaky backline.

And Guardiola has now said the onus is on the former Everton man to stake his claim for a return to the side.

Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images

“When his manager says ‘Today, you are going to play’, that’s what he needs,” the Spaniard said.

“Fight like he fought from the beginning of the season. If you see my line-ups for the last three, four, five months, here, I try to let all the players play.

“He has played a lot and now for this kind of stadium, for Benteke, for the long balls, I decided to play two central defenders who are stronger in the air.

“I will continue to play left-footed central defenders on the left side, like Kolarov, but I remember the last games [Stones] played – especially at Anfield, even in Goodison Park – he played good.”