John Stones admitted he is still learning how the play at right-back for Manchester City, although he is relishing the unexpected opportunity to try a new position.
Stones has been called upon to cover for the injured Kyle Walker at times in the last couple of months, although he too has been injured for some of the time, and he made his comeback as the right full-back in City's Champions League draw at Borussia Dortmund.
The England centre-back had started the reverse fixture in the same position, scoring a brilliant equaliser, and was picked again at the Westfalenstadion. While he may not have expected to be learning a new position this season, Stones says he is enjoying the challenge and the tactical responsibilities that come as a full-back in Pep Guardiola's system.
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“I enjoy it. It is a learning curve for me, learning a different position, trying to adapt, and trying to better myself," Stones explained. "Getting into those different positions within the midfield and trying to make things happen. I feel like I’ve still got a lot to learn when I am in those positions, but I am really enjoying it.
"I think when you are in your own position, your instinct kicks in and you know where to be and where to take up good positions to receive the ball and then I try to move and help my team out. The more I do it, the more I will pick it up.”
The extent of the job required at right-back was hammered home for Stones on Tuesday when he was moved from right-back at half-time following a shaky first 45 minutes, where Borussia Dortmund exploited his inexperience in that position. However, Stones says those half-time changes improved City and they may have been unlucky not to win the game.
He said: “I think we found more space in the middle of the pitch and tried to create some chances down the middle which we couldn’t do because they kept it very compact in the first half. We did find our normal rhythm, a few tweaks at half-time and we came out in the second half.
"I thought we caused a lot of problems with the runs in from behind and the chances that we created and the players that came off the bench as well.”
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