Ahead of the October international break, Pep Guardiola’s Treble winners suffered rare back-to-back league losses away at Wolves and Arsenal.
However, City have returned to action in fine style, beating an impressive Brighton in the league and Young Boys of Switzerland in the Champions League before then despatching Manchester United 3-0 in quite emphatic fashion in last Sunday’s Old Trafford derby.
For Stones that superb response is evidence of City’s hunger to continually improve.
And he believes those October slip-ups also helped served as the perfect incentive for the squad to kick on and raise standards once again.
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“I think in previous seasons around this time we have not picked up points that we should have or wanted to,” Stones pointed out.
“Every year you have got to try and better yourself and improve as a team.
“I feel where we are right now and what we have had has been good for us in a way with the defeats as it kind of puts you back in check.
“I think for us, it (the derby) was one of the games where we needed to keep the momentum going, regardless of who it was against.
“I think in such a high-pressured situation, those wins are massive. To play the way we did was amazing.
“Hopefully we can go on a run now and see where it takes us.”
After the rare luxury of no midweek game, City return to action on Saturday afternoon when we play host to Bournemouth.
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During Bournemouth’s time in the Premier League, City have enjoyed a perfect record against the Cherries, winning all 12 of our games against them to date – the best 100% record any team has against another in English top-flight history.
However, Andoni Iraola’s side will make the lengthy trek north buoyed by last weekend’s first league win of the season against Burnley.
And, for his part, Stones expects nothing less than the toughest of examinations against the south coast visitors.
“It is never easy,” the England defender warned.
“Regardless of where they are in the table or the results that they have had recently, they are always a team that are well organised and make it difficult right until the 95th or 96th minute.
“We have had some good battles over the years and I think with us being at home it is a big advantage for us.”
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Minute-by-minute text updates will begin in our Matchday Centre two hours before kick-off, while our Matchday Live show will begin at 14:00 (UK).
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