John Stones admits Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has forced him to rethink his approach to football.

Stones has been heralded for his performances in midfield this year for City.

He told the Daily Mail: "I thought I knew football to a decent degree when I came. Pep made me feel like I knew nothing. He's opened my eyes to so much, he's kind of reinvented my brain.

"Being a defender for Pep is so rewarding. He expects a lot from us to start play and it's rewarding when you have trained over and over, what he wants, and you see how it plays out. I absolutely love it, I'm learning. Every year there's something new.

"I always say when you're happy, in anything, you enjoy it more. At the minute the players, me, I'm happy and that's when you can express yourself more.

"I had done the role a few times in certain different circumstances but without it being permanent as it is now. He saw with my attributes that he could simplify it and help me improve and get better in that system.

"I find it hard talking about myself like that to be fair, but I think that sums it up. I don't know what to say when people talk about Franz Beckenbauer!"