Man City star reveals how he almost retired last season

Manchester City defender John Stones recently revealed that he contemplated retirement last summer after spending a lengthy period sidelined by injury. 

The 31-year-old has struggled with injuries throughout his career. He missed 25 games due to injury for Everton across the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons, and in his nine years at Manchester City, he has missed 114 games for the Cityzens and the English national team. 

Although he has had a regrettable injury history, Stones was nearly defeated mentally, as he spent a record amount of time injured or convalescing. 

According to Transfer Market, Stones was out for 164 days due to injury and missed 32 games. The England international said he felt defeated and seriously contemplated retiring. 

In an interview with the BBC, Stones discussed his fitness problem from the previous campaign and how it almost tipped him over the edge. 

"Last season was tough for me, to the point where I thought about stopping,” he said. “I didn't want to do it. I had had enough of being so professional and trying to do everything right in my power, to then keep breaking down and not having the answers. It was a very difficult place to be in.

"There comes a point where you don't know why it happens, and it is even harder when you put in so much effort, or you are ultra-professional, to be able to play and be available. 

“When that time comes and something happens, it would be easier to say, 'well I didn't do X, Y and Z; that's why.' But when you do it, it's then mentally challenging. Hopefully, I don't go back to that place.

"My emotions were high. I wasn't thinking straight. I don't think deep down I would have ever done it [retired].