The reason behind Manchester City’s diminished interest in Andrea Cambiaso has not been explicitly detailed.

The performance exhibited by Manchester City against Club Brugge last evening can undoubtedly be characterised as a narrative of two distinct halves.

Although it is a well-worn cliché, it resonated with authenticity last night. Pep Guardiola’s team did not perform at their optimal level during the first half against Club Brugge.

They demonstrated a resurgence in the second half to avert a humiliating premature elimination from the Champions League, securing a 3-1 victory that enabled their advancement in the competition. Few City players performed at their optimal level for the entirety of the 90 minutes during last night’s match at the Etihad.

However, one individual who stood out was John Stones.Stones’ performance last night was precisely what his team required, underscoring the deficiencies they have experienced this season due to his prolonged struggle with injuries throughout a significant portion of the 2024/25 season. Stones imparted a sense of tranquilly to Pep Guardiola’s team during the first half.

He was undoubtedly the most outstanding performer for the City team during the first half. He demonstrated proficiency in ball possession, and his capacity to advance into the midfield significantly contributed to Manchester City’s control of possession during the initial 45 minutes of the match. It must be noted that City exhibited a limited attacking threat during the initial phase of yesterday’s match.

For further information, please refer to the player ratings from Manchester City’s 3-1 victory against Club Brugge. John Stones exhibited notable improvement during the latter portion of last night’s match. He recorded two assists; however, his assist for Mateo Kovacic’s goal does not fully convey the nature of the goal itself.

Nonetheless, Stones’ second assist for Savinho’s goal exemplified the qualities that Manchester City has lacked during Stones’ absence. Stones executed a magnificent pass over the defensive line of Club Brugge. Whether it was in possession or defensively Stones put in a performance that was reminiscent of the ones he put in during City’s treble winning season of 22/23.

In my opinion, John Stones was the standout performer for Manchester City during last night’s match at the Etihad Stadium. There is now optimism that he will maintain his fitness for the remainder of the season. Manchester City performs at a higher level when Stones is in optimal physical condition and demonstrating his peak capabilities.

His performance at Club Brugge served as a timely reminder of this reality. His performance was pivotal to his team’s victory, demonstrating that when John Stones is in optimal physical condition and form, he ranks among the most essential players in Pep Guardiola’s squad.