The 28-year-old left-back has played an integral role in aiding her side’s silverware success, since joining the Club in 2015, clocking up 134 appearances and starring as one of our most consistent performers.
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Despite her dependability and status as a long-term England international, the modest defender prefers to shy away from the spotlight, admitting she can be highly critical of her own displays.
“I’m always hard on myself,” she said. “I always want to be better.
“You can’t settle for being satisfied with performances, especially with games getting bigger, more competitive and coming thick and fast.
“It’s important to keep pushing for consistency and good performances – striving for eights or nines out of ten every week.
“The only way to do that is by reaching that level in training and looking back at games. Although you may be happy with what you’ve done, there’s always something new you can learn.
“You have to ask yourself: how could I have done that differently? How can I adapt your game when needed? A game can change.
“You shouldn’t always be satisfied because you’re never always at your best.”
Following manager Nick Cushing’s departure to New York City FC, City are in the midst of a transition period with Assistant Manager Alan Mahon taking the helm until the end of the season.
With the league leaders approaching ‘the business end’ of the season, chasing the FA Women’s Super League crown and a second successive FA Cup triumph, Stokes asserts her side must remain focused on matters on the pitch.
“For us, it’s a new chapter,” she stated. “It’s something we can embrace as a team – a positive opportunity.
“Whoever comes in next will have another coaching style and that’s something we can add to our toolbox as individual, learning new things.
“It’s important to keep our mind in the right place and stay focused.
“Win, lose or draw, we must remain humble – in good storms or bad storms. It’s about having that consistency in our behaviours as well.
“We just have to take each game as it comes, recognise that game and then move on.”
City are back in action on Sunday (3pm) with a trip to West Ham Women in the FA WSL. Tickets for all home games are available online or at the Etihad Stadium Ticket Office.
