Manchester City defender John Stones is dreaming about Champions League glory after scoring twice in 4-0 victory against Group F rivals Feyenoord
- Highly-rated ball-playing defender John Stones is dreaming of European glory
- Manchester City's centre half netted twice in the Champions League this week
- His brace helped City to an impressive 4-0 win at Group F rivals Feyenoord
- The 23-year-old said: We've got to dream and feel confident we can lift trophy
John Stones believes Manchester City can dream of winning the Champions League - but is not getting carried away by their impressive start.
Centre back Stones was one of the star performers as City opened their seventh successive campaign in the competition with an emphatic 4-0 win at Feyenoord.
Stones got on the scoresheet twice in Rotterdam, setting up his side's victory stroll in the second minute and then wrapping up the rout after strikes from Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus.
John Stones struck twice against Champions League opponents Feyenoord this week
The quality of performance from Pep Guardiola's team has Stones dreaming of European glory
The ball-playing Manchester City centre-half has been earning praise for the quality of his play
City will undoubtedly face tougher challenges than the one presented by the Dutch champions but this exhilarating performance did mark them out as genuine contenders for the crown.
Stones said: 'I think we have got to dream and feel confident enough we can do it - and why not because we want to be in every competition, trying to win things.
'But at the same time we have got to take things game by game and see where it takes us. It's a great start and hopefully we can take it into the next game.'
City 's new signing Benjamin Mendy celebrates with Stones after the defender scored
City played a scintillating brand of attacking football that quickly silenced the home crowd at a lively De Kuip and must have delighted manager Pep Guardiola.
Most of the damage was done in a blistering opening 25 minutes as Stones headed the opener through the legs of Tonny Vilhena on the line and Aguero and Jesus quickly followed up.
Kevin De Bruyne delivered another passing masterclass and delivered a pinpoint cross for Stones to head in the fourth after 63 minutes.
Stones' two goals in Holland capped a superb individual performance from the England man
Stones displays underlined boss Guardiola's faith in him after patchy performances last term
That capped a superb individual performance from Stones, who also excelled in his defensive duties.
The 23-year-old ball-playing defender was often criticised in his first season at City but his display underlined Guardiola's faith in him. It also offered further proof, after Saturday's impressive win over Liverpool, that he can hold City's defence strong in the absence of captain Vincent Kompany.
Stones put his improvement down to his continued exposure to City's fine array of attacking players in training.
Stones is learning every day after being exposed to City's glittering array of attacking talent
He said: 'It is brilliant for my learning playing against top strikers every day. It is only helping me, working with them day-in, day-out.
'Then obviously to play in, it's a pleasure. Some of the boys, some of the skills they pull off and football they play is great to watch and great to be part of.'
The result already puts City in a strong position in Group F ahead of successive home games against Shakhtar Donetsk and Napoli.
Stones said: 'I think getting an early goal always helps but we controlled the game. Everyone was firing, working hard for each other. It is credit to everyone.
'To score four goals and keep a clean sheet away from home in a hostile stadium is a massive boost for us to take into the next game.'
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