Pep Guardiola’s side are unbeaten in their 13 matches so far, with the 3-0 win over Burnley on Saturday equalling the Club record of 11 straight wins and moving the Blues five points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
City’s attacking play has garnered the majority of the headlines this season – they have scored a remarkable 42 goals already – but Stones believes the eight clean sheets have been hugely significant, too.
“For me, [the clean sheets] have been massive this season, creating that platform for the boys to go and score,” he said.
“Not just me, it’s the whole team that are getting the clean sheets. The more we keep, the more chance we’ve got of winning games.
“It’s a combination of everything, really. The hard work on the training pitch, the players – everything is coming together and the desire to keep winning and keep keeping clean sheets, that confidence to take it into each game, is massive.
“The longer we keep doing that and keep striving for these things, it will keep coming each week and each game.”
City weren’t at their best against Burnley, who came into the match unbeaten away from home and sitting seventh in the table.
But goals from Sergio Aguero, Nicolas Otamendi and Leroy Sane sealed a vital win that Stones says could be important come the end of the season.
“I think every game is crucial,” he said. “Last season teams started off flying, some came from behind and made their way up. Every game is crucial. The goal difference and things like that, everything could come into play.
“Football is always changing and things can happen. To keep clean sheets, keep winning and keep beating every opposition that comes in front of us is a new challenge every week.
“It was a tough game, especially coming on the back of Champions League. Burnley’s run away from home has been brilliant so we knew what was expected of us today.
“It was difficult conditions for both teams and we’re really happy to get the three points.
“They’re a well-organised team. Good defensively, they’ve showed that on the road. We knew what we had to do.
“Coming after the Napoli game, it was never going to be an easy match. To score three against them and clean sheet is massive for us.”
Aguero’s goal means he is now level with Eric Brook on the Club’s list of all-time leading goalscorers.
It was the 177th goal he has struck in a Blue shirt since his arrival in the summer of 2011.
Stones, whose own form has been receiving plenty of praise, says Aguero will break the record sooner rather than later.
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“He is top class,” he said. “When he came into the Premier League I was watching him, sat at home. Top player.
“The strikers are on form now. The competition in training is making them want to be better and score more goals.
“When they are on the pitch they have got to take their chances and that is what they are doing. I’m sure Kun will break the record and deservedly so because he is a top-class player.”
