Pep Guardiola has stressed the importance of John Stones staying fit by revealing he has “never been so angry” as when the Manchester City defender was injured during England’s friendly against Belgium in the spring.
Stones sustained a muscle problem 10 minutes into the 2-2 draw at Wembley on 26 March, causing his withdrawal. It came after he played all of the 1-0 defeat against Brazil three days previously.
The injury has hampered Stones, who has since made only three Premier League starts. On Sunday the 30‑year‑old defender underlined his importance to City with the added‑time winner at Wolves, which followed an added-time equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal in September.
Guardiola appeared to blame Stones for the injury against Belgium. “I know the players don’t want to get injured, I always encourage them to go to the national team, it’s a pleasure, but if it’s a friendly game you cannot come back injured. I’m sorry,” he said.
“If you are focused, if it is a friendly game, you cannot come back injured when you are playing the quarter‑finals of the Champions League [in April v Real Madrid], because they [players] put in a lot of work behind [the scenes].
“They are the first to make a lot of work to arrive in the last stages of the season with a chance to win the titles. I know him and when he is fit he is ready. I need him. Otherwise, we cannot compete until the end. The most important thing is not training sessions, it is being fit. No injuries is the only reason why you can stay until the end of the season.”
Guardiola also indicated the then England manager Gareth Southgate was culpable for playing Stones, with Kyle Walker also experiencing an issue against Brazil. “Sometimes you have to respect the clubs,” Guardiola said. “In friendly games you cannot be injured. You can play, absolutely, but you cannot come back injured.
“I was never so angry as that moment. Never ever before was I so disappointed. For a friendly game, two players coming back injured – no, no, no. I didn’t like it, at all.”
City host Sparta Prague on Wednesday in their third Champions League game of the season. The fixture will be the sixth Rodri has missed since being ruled out for the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Guardiola is pleased with how his side has responded to losing the influential midfielder, winning four and drawing one. “More than happy. There are many things I like,” he said. He indicated Kevin De Bruyne and Walker may be unavailable for some time, while they recover from injuries.
