The England defender has been back to his best since returning from injury earlier this season, keeping a clean sheet in each of his last five appearances and impressing with a series of strong displays.
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Pep Guardiola has been delighted with the 26-year-old and former centre-back Lescott admits he can see Stones has improved areas of his game, but also feels his upturn in form is a reaction to the summer additions of Ake and Dias.
“Confidence and concentration,” said Lescott on the We’re Not Really Here matchday show when asked where Stones has improved.
“I also believe the additions of Dias and Ake also made him realise it was real and there was a possibility you may be leaving.
“He was down in the pecking order. I don’t think you can argue that he wasn’t 5th or 6th choice centre-half at the start of the season, but he’s been given an opportunity and he’s taken it with both hands and proven he can be as good as anyone in this league.
“He’s got the composure when his confidence is high to do things that other defenders can’t do but he’s also eradicated all the small things and he’s doing the basics well.”
Stones’ partnership with Dias has been one of the highlights of City’s recent form and in the six games the pair have played together this season, they are yet to concede a goal.
It’s meant Aymeric Laporte, widely regarded as the senior centre-half over the last two campaigns, has been forced to make way for Stones, with the Frenchman left out of each of our previous five league games.
Former midfielder Michael Brown believes that level of competition is vital for City and motivates players to remain at the top of their game.
“Everybody was saying we need Aymeric back, we missed him on the left and you felt he was the real leader,” added Brown on We’re Not Really Here.
“But things change. You’re at a club like Manchester City, you’re looking over your shoulder, you have a couple of off days.
“We don’t know if he had a slight injury, but it gives someone an opportunity. It breeds that sort of desire in the squad that you’ve got to be on top of your game week in week out.
“And that’s what you need, you need to be looking over your shoulder all the time. That’s what you need in a top club.”
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