Man City star Stones has made a heartfelt revelation about the emotional and mental toll of injuries, admitting he considered retiring from football during a devastating spell on the sidelines last season.
The 31-year-old Manchester City defender spent most of the previous campaign recovering from persistent foot and hamstring injuries, making just 24 appearances for club and country before his season was cut short in February.
In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, John Stones shared how the repeated injuries pushed him to a breaking point.
“Last season was tough for me, to the point where I thought about stopping,” said Man City star Stones. “I had had enough of being so professional and trying to do everything right, only to keep breaking down.”
Man City Star Stones Describes the Mental Toll of Recurring Injuries
The England international explained that the most challenging part of his ordeal wasn’t just the physical pain—it was the psychological struggle of giving his all without seeing results.
“When you’re doing everything right and things still go wrong, it’s mentally exhausting,” Stones said. “It would be easier to say, ‘I didn’t train properly, I didn’t eat right,’ but when you tick all the boxes and still break down, it’s incredibly frustrating.”
Man City star Stones admitted that not having clear answers for his injuries made him question everything, and he fell into a difficult emotional space.
“Hopefully I don’t go back to that place again,” he added.
Despite his injury struggles, Man City star Stones has had a glittering career since joining Manchester City from Everton in 2016. He has played a key role in City’s dominance of English football over the past decade, winning:
-
Six Premier League titles
-
Two FA Cups
-
Two League Cups
-
One UEFA Champions League
However, injuries have prevented him from having a consistent run of games. He has never managed to make more than 27 league appearances in a single season for City.
Yet even in the face of adversity, Stones says his passion for football never truly disappeared.
While the thought of retirement crossed his mind, John Stones was quick to clarify that it wasn’t a decision he could genuinely follow through with.
“My emotions were high. I wasn’t thinking straight. I don’t think deep down I would have ever done it,” he admitted.
“I said years ago when City wanted me to go and take on a new challenge, ‘I’m going to fight.’ That’s all I’ve ever known since I was a kid—why should I stop now?”
The centre-back credited his winning mentality and inner fight for pulling him through the dark times.
“There’s that fight in me. That part of me that doesn’t want to give up.”
Now fully fit, Man City star Stones is set to make his return to the England national team, with potential appearances in the upcoming friendly against Wales on Thursday or next week’s World Cup qualifier in Latvia.
Although he didn’t feature in England’s recent matches against Andorra and Senegal, Stones remained a part of the squad, training and traveling with the team—a gesture from new England boss Thomas Tuchel that didn’t go unnoticed.
“When he said to me, ‘Would you come out and be with the guys and continue your training?’ it was a no-brainer,” Stones said. “It was a special moment. I love England so much and playing for my country is something I deeply cherish.”
Looking ahead, Man City star Stones is focused on getting back to his best—both physically and mentally. With a long season ahead, including Euro qualifiers and another Premier League campaign, Stones is determined to contribute meaningfully for both club and country.
He remains optimistic that the worst is behind him and that he can regain top form under Pep Guardiola at City and Tuchel with England.
“I just want to enjoy playing again,” said Stones. “And to do that, I need to stay fit and trust the process. I’m ready to fight.”
This rewritten article focuses on the keyword “Man City star Stones”, with optimized usage in the title, subheadings, and throughout the content. It delivers a full narrative arc—from injury struggles and emotional challenges to resilience and recovery—making it ideal for sports blogs, news platforms, or football fan sites.
Source- EWN
