The centre-half started alongside Ruben Dias for the first time this season at Old Trafford, helping to limit United to just one shot on target and earn a clean sheet in the process.
It was an equally dominant display at the other end, as City comfortably saw out the win after racing into a 2-0 lead before the break.
And the England international insists Pep Guardiola’s men put in a near-faultless performance.
He said: “[It is] incredible. These are the games you want to play in.
“Credit to every player because they played their part and in the whole team, the energy and the mentality that we showed was incredible.
“It is not an easy place to come at all, so to come out on top with a clean sheet and two goals, we are extremely happy.”
Although City were unable to build on our early two-goal advantage, the damage had already been done in a devastating opening 45 minutes at Old Trafford.
Pep Guardiola’s men were quickest out of the traps and instantly set about asserting our dominance, which culminated in an incredible 68% possession across the 90 minutes.
But for Stones, that sort of desire to take the game by the scruff of the neck was simply a continuation of what Guardiola has instilled in the team throughout his time in the hot seat.
“The mentality that we showed was incredible. Derby games are about passion and fighting and sometimes that can win you a game,” he reflected.
“We brought that today, a lot of passion.
“We set our stall out quite early and wanted to get on the front foot, press high and everything that we have done over the five years that I have been here.
“It paid off and those sorts of things we work on week in, week out; controlling the tempo, pressing high, we did it so well today and that was key to winning the game.”
