John Stones has admitted that working with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City has been even better than he had ever imagined.
The centre back moved up the M62 to the Etihad from Everton last summer and has become a key part of City's defence since he departed Goodison Park, despite the Citizens' recent run of poor form.
Guardiola's charges have recorded just two wins in the last seven league games, and have lost their last two against title rivals Chelsea and defending top flight champions Leicester City, but Stones insists that Guardiola is still the world's best manager in spite of his side's lacklustre form of late.
He told the Times of India (via FourFourTwo): "He was 100 per cent a major factor, if not the main reason for me coming. There's a lot of factors to think about when you're moving clubs but in my eyes, he's the best manager in the world to work with.
"To be given that opportunity to work with him, I couldn't say no. And working with him has been even better than I expected."
Stones' sloppy back pass handed the Foxes their fourth goal in the 4-2 defeat at the King Power stadium last Saturday as City's defensive frailties were exposed again, while attentions turned once more to the 21-year-old's desire to overplay in areas near to his own goal.
The England international agreed that he needed to learn from his mistakes when quizzed on the matter, and stated he was doing all he could be become even better.
Stones continued: "He (Guardiola) will certainly tell you when something is wrong. It's part of football, being told off now and again. You are going to make mistakes. That's how it is. That's also how you learn and react. I think that's how every player moves on.
"I'm always the first person to know or say I've made a mistake. I'll do that openly Âbecause that's the only way you move forward and realise what you have done wrong. I'm striving to be a top player. I know I've got a lot of hard work to get through before I'm winning titles and becoming the player I want to be. But that's the aim."
#PremierLeague Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola 'even better than expected' according to John Stones:¦ https://t.co/TE5jr7qZEt
City host Watford in Wednesday's Premier League encounter as they look to arrest their slide down to fourth in the league standings, and Stones added that he and his team mates must put their recent defeats to the back of their minds if they harbour hopes to mounting a title challenge this term.
He said: "There was a real sour feeling running through everyone's minds after we lost (against Leicester and Chelsea). It was a difficult one to take.
"I don't think the score reflected the way we played. In my opinion, it should have been us three and them one, but that's football. You have to put that to one side and just go and win games."
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