Guehi regrets missing out on Stones partnership at City before World Cup push

Marc Guehi has opened up on his regret at never properly partnering John Stones at Manchester City, with the two defenders set to anchor England’s defence at this summer’s World Cup.

Despite Stones spending time at the Etihad alongside Guehi from January, the pair shared the pitch for just eight minutes together in City colours — during a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace. Stones has since left the club following the expiry of his contract.

“We didn’t get the opportunity at City, which was a shame,” Guehi told talkSPORT ahead of England’s warm-up match against Costa Rica in Orlando. “But to be fair, it doesn’t really matter. Whoever plays, the most important thing is just to do the best for the team and try to make England fans proud.”

For England, however, the partnership is far more established. Guehi and Stones first started together in a 4-0 Nations League defeat to Hungary in 2022 and have since lined up alongside each other on 11 further occasions. Most recently, they partnered for 45 minutes as the Three Lions beat New Zealand 1-0 in their opening World Cup warm-up fixture.

Guehi is widely considered Thomas Tuchel’s first-choice centre-back heading into the tournament, though competition for the role alongside him remains intense. Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa and Newcastle’s Dan Burn are both pushing Stones for the second starting berth.

Asked to compare Stones and Konsa, Guehi was diplomatic. “They’re both still both fantastic players,” he said. “They’re both coming from a school of managers that like to put on the ball and they’re both amazing ball players and centre-halves. Both have unbelievable awareness defensively and show their qualities each and every game as leaders in their own different ways.”

Guehi also reflected on working under Tuchel after his time at City under Pep Guardiola, suggesting the two coaches share more common ground than their reputations might suggest. “It’s actually not that different, to be honest,” he said. “They’re both, in a way, saying the same things. Similar messages, I’d say, it’s just done in a different way.”