Manchester City in the Carabao: Second leg talking points

BRISTOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 23: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola congratulates Oleksandr Zinchenko after the Carabao Cup Semi-Final: Second Leg match between Bristol City and Manchester City at Ashton Gate on January 23, 2018 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /

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BRISTOL, ENGLAND – JANUARY 23: Bristol player Joe Bryan (r) challenges John Stones of Manchester City during the Carabao Cup Semi-Final: Second Leg match between Bristol City and Manchester City at Ashton Gate on January 23, 2018 in Bristol, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /

John Stones:

I still have firm belief that John Stones will be a fantastic defender for the next decade. Right now though, he’s having what is technically known as a ‘wobbly period’. Yes he was out with injury and, yes he is returning to match fitness. That said, his errors over the last month have been quite costly. Not in points necessarily, but in goals.

I think Pep Guardiola will keep faith with the English defender and may even start him at the weekend. At the moment, with Kompany out and Mangala out of favour, we have no one to challenge him.

Any new signings who can put the pressure on Stones would be a good thing. Laporte or even Evans could be just the tonic to get him focused.

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