Erling Haaland has scored the most goals for Manchester City this season. There is a case for arguing that John Stones has scored the most important. They have gained an extra three points courtesy of his injury-time interventions, in the 98th minute against Arsenal and the 95th at Wolves. Once again, he has become a talismanic figure: the hybrid of defender or midfielder in the treble-winning season now has a new role as a goalscorer.
If Guardiola and Stones is an enduring relationship, it is an intriguing one, too. Yet even as Guardiola eulogised about a player he claimed looked like his offspring, he criticised him too. Stones is the pseudo-son who upset him.
