JOHN STONES insists he won’t be scared of facing his idol Lionel Messi in the Nou Camp tomorrow (7.45pm).
Stones will fulfil one of his lifelong dreams when he steps out in the famous stadium for Manchester City’s crunch Champions League showdown with Barcelona.
The England defender grew up watching Barca just because of Messi and his relentless brilliance. Now he will get the chance to witness it first hand and is hoping those dreams from his teenage years don’t turn into a nightmare.
Stones is maturing into one of the finest centre-backs in European football following his British record £50million switch from Everton this summer.
He is being tipped to become the next England captain and knows stopping Messi as part of the triumphant trio of Neymar and Luis Suarez will be a huge step in his development.
“It will be big occasion for me, my family and the club,” said the 22-year-old.
“It was Messi himself and the style they play that I liked. Obviously the gaffer [Pep Guardiola] used to work there and I was a big fan when he was there and the players he had.
“Now the new players have come in and they’re an exciting team. It will be great to come face to face with them.
“It doesn’t scare me. You have to play against the best to see how you can deal with it and it always brings the best out in you as well. I see it as an exciting challenge and one I’m looking forward to.
“For me, Messi is the best player in the world, easily. He’s one of a kind. We as footballers appreciate it even more when you come up against him and see what he can really do.
“I’ll be looking forward to that challenge. But it’s not just him, it’s everyone in that side we have to keep close tabs on.”
Stones has been criticised for lacking focus and concentration in the past and admits it is part of his game he needs to improve.
He knows he and his team-mates cannot afford to switch off for a second against the most potent attacking trio in the history of club football.
He said: “You can’t let your game slip or your focus. It’s something I’m working on, but that comes with age and games as well, experience.
“It takes time to learn the game and I’m still learning. There’s plenty more to come.
“Every game is tough, especially in the Premier League. You saw that against Everton, at Tottenham when we lost, there are no easy games.
“So it’s not just about facing Barcelona to improve your game, but about playing at this level.”
Stones says he isn’t suffering due to his massive price tag, adding: “I don’t feel more pressure now, not at all. I’ve come here and done what I’ve always done. I feel I’m helping the team out and that’s what I’ve come here to do, to play my football, keep improving, keep doing well.
“It’s a big learning curve and I’m just really enjoying it. I’m an ambitious guy. I would love to keep playing well and, with England, take my form into that as well with the World Cup in mind.
“I want to win trophies, definitely. This is a big game against Barcelona, a big occasion in the Champions League, and we want to go far in it.
“To win it, you need to beat the best teams. We can go to Barcelona and get a big result with how we’ve been playing. Hopefully we can go there and cause a shock.”
The England defender grew up watching Barca just because of Messi and his relentless brilliance. Now he will get the chance to witness it first hand and is hoping those dreams from his teenage years don’t turn into a nightmare.
Stones is maturing into one of the finest centre-backs in European football following his British record £50million switch from Everton this summer.
He is being tipped to become the next England captain and knows stopping Messi as part of the triumphant trio of Neymar and Luis Suarez will be a huge step in his development.
“It will be big occasion for me, my family and the club,” said the 22-year-old.
“It was Messi himself and the style they play that I liked. Obviously the gaffer [Pep Guardiola] used to work there and I was a big fan when he was there and the players he had.
“Now the new players have come in and they’re an exciting team. It will be great to come face to face with them.
“It doesn’t scare me. You have to play against the best to see how you can deal with it and it always brings the best out in you as well. I see it as an exciting challenge and one I’m looking forward to.
“For me, Messi is the best player in the world, easily. He’s one of a kind. We as footballers appreciate it even more when you come up against him and see what he can really do.
“I’ll be looking forward to that challenge. But it’s not just him, it’s everyone in that side we have to keep close tabs on.”
Stones has been criticised for lacking focus and concentration in the past and admits it is part of his game he needs to improve.
He knows he and his team-mates cannot afford to switch off for a second against the most potent attacking trio in the history of club football.
He said: “You can’t let your game slip or your focus. It’s something I’m working on, but that comes with age and games as well, experience.
“It takes time to learn the game and I’m still learning. There’s plenty more to come.
“Every game is tough, especially in the Premier League. You saw that against Everton, at Tottenham when we lost, there are no easy games.
“So it’s not just about facing Barcelona to improve your game, but about playing at this level.”
Stones says he isn’t suffering due to his massive price tag, adding: “I don’t feel more pressure now, not at all. I’ve come here and done what I’ve always done. I feel I’m helping the team out and that’s what I’ve come here to do, to play my football, keep improving, keep doing well.
“It’s a big learning curve and I’m just really enjoying it. I’m an ambitious guy. I would love to keep playing well and, with England, take my form into that as well with the World Cup in mind.
“I want to win trophies, definitely. This is a big game against Barcelona, a big occasion in the Champions League, and we want to go far in it.
“To win it, you need to beat the best teams. We can go to Barcelona and get a big result with how we’ve been playing. Hopefully we can go there and cause a shock.”
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