John Stones warns Premier League rivals Manchester City are ‘back with fire in our bellies’ ahead of 2025/26 season
Updated 05/08/2025 at 20:44 GMT+1
Manchester City were toppled from their perch as English champions last season, and John Stones says they are determined to use that frustration to reclaim their crown in 2025/26. The defender only made 11 league appearances as Pep Guardiola's side came third in the top flight. That led to speculation he might be about to leave the Etihad Stadium, but he has laughed off those reports.
'We're back with fire in our bellies' - Stones eyes Man City return to glory
Video credit: SNTV
John Stones insists Manchester City have "fire in our bellies" as they go in search of winning back their Premier League crown.
Pep Guardiola's side saw their four-year reign as English champions end last season, when they were toppled by Liverpool.
A disappointing campaign actually culminated in The Citizens coming third in the top flight, their joint-lowest finish of the last decade.
Indeed, a haul of only 71 points was the club's lowest since Guardiola took charge in 2016, but Stones said the squad are determined to put things right over the next 10 months.
"[Last season was] humbling for us, after all the success that we've had," he said of the 2024/25 campaign.
"It makes us realise what we've done as well, what we've achieved over the years and how proud we should be - and obviously frustrated at what we did last season.
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"It's not what we want to replicate again. To finish third, three or four points behind Arsenal, is, to our standards, not good.
"How we played through the season, we've got to put that right and get back to our identity, get back to winning matches and having that presence about us and believing in ourselves as a team.
"I'm sure we'll find that and bring it back, because it was tough last season, to go through what we did.
"We definitely come back with that fire in our bellies to go and achieve."
After a busy summer which saw them compete in the revamped FIFA Club World Cup, City return to action with a pre-season clash against Palermo on Saturday, August 9.
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Man City want to 'challenge ourselves and do our best' - Guardiola
Video credit: SNTV
That will be their only warm-up fixture for the 2025/26 campaign, which gets underway against Wolves at Molineux seven days later.
It is hardly surprising that Guardiola has opted for such a slim pre-season schedule, given his side's last competitive outing came as recently as July 1, when they were beaten 4-3 by Al Hilal.
Therefore, there has not been much time for the club's summer signings to gel with their new team-mates.
Sverre Nypan has arrived from Rosenborg, while James Trafford is back at the Etihad after a stint with Burnley.
Four additions were also made before the Club World Cup, including Lyon's Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders of AC Milan.
With Kevin De Bruyne among those to have left City over the last couple of months, it has been a summer of change.
But Stones is pleased with what he has seen from the new signings, and believes they all bring an extra dimension to the side.
"The guys that have come in have been great," he continued. "It takes a bit of time to get used to the style of play, what's expected and what's asked of them.
"But the guys have come in for a reason, the quality that they've got. The aspects of the game are different from what we've had in the past.
"I'm excited to play with them and see what they do."
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De Bruyne reveals he had 'lots of offers' but 'the best' was Napoli
Video credit: SNTV
Speculation 'laughable to me'
Meanwhile, Stones has brushed aside any speculation of a move away from the Etihad Stadium this summer.
The defender joined Manchester City from Everton in 2016.
Over the last nine years, he has amassed 277 appearances for the club, but turned out just 11 times in the top flight last season.
That had led to reports that he might be heading for the exit, but Stones says that could not be further from the truth.
"I got told this; I don't see a thing," he added. "It's laughable to me, but I understand why people do it.
"There's nothing to comment on it. I love it here. Nothing's happening. I'm here to fight and play and hopefully win some trophies."
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