John Stones has openly criticized Manchester City’s performance during their recent match against Arsenal, where they suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat. The team managed to equalize briefly but conceded four goals in the second half, with three happening in the last thirty minutes of the game.
Stones expressed his disappointment during a Sky Sports interview, apologizing to the traveling fans for the team’s lackluster showing in the final stages. He stated, “It’s difficult, I think all of us don’t take losing well,” and described the final thirty minutes as “not acceptable,” indicating that such a collapse is far from their usual standards.
Pep Guardiola, the City manager, supported Stones’ remarks, acknowledging that while losses can happen, the manner of the last thirty minutes was unacceptable. He remarked, “You can lose by two or three or four, but in the last 30 minutes we have to do it and we don’t have a defence.” Guardiola emphasized the importance of sticking to tactics even in challenging situations, highlighting that recent patterns of capitulation — seen in previous matches against teams like Brentford and Paris Saint-Germain — need to be addressed.
The broader context of the season reveals that Manchester City has experienced difficulties that are not typical of their recent successes, leading Guardiola to describe the team as “fragile.” He noted that despite setbacks, the players must continue to uphold their responsibilities on the field. Guardiola concluded by inviting his team to learn from these experiences, reinforcing the belief that there is always room for improvement.
In the face of adversity, there remains hope for Manchester City. The team has a wealth of talent and the potential to bounce back. By learning from their recent mistakes and maintaining a consistent approach, they can regain their composure and return to their competitive best.