Manchester City

We asked for your views on John Stones, who will leave Manchester City this summer after 10 years at the club

Here are some of your comments:

Grace: Club legend. His performance in Istanbul to secure the Treble and our first Champions League will live long in the memory of all fans. It's unfortunate that his injuries kept him out of the team so much, but a decade of service to the club is not bad going!

Bryan: Stones has been brilliant for us and is my favourite centre-back of all time. He had/has everything - big, strong, quick, great reader of the game, always good on the ball and never panicked. A one-off. The only downside is his injury record so it's probably the right time to move on. I hope he does brilliantly wherever he goes.

Christopher: Johnny, Johnny Stones loves an 11mm goalline clearance.

Russ: All the best, John Stones. I'm sure the doubt over his fitness has played a part in the conversations with City. That aside, it's hard to think of a more classy central defender. If his next team can get a full season out of him it will be a nailed on good one. Some outstanding games for City over the years.

Evan: A top player and a top bloke. He's been absolutely fantastic for City and I'm truly gutted his injuries mean he will now leave us. The fans adore him - he will be truly missed. Thank you for 10 great years, John.

Usama: A truly special player in many ways. He arrived at the club with several question marks over his ability and the money we bought him for, but look back at what he has achieved and he is worth every penny. He's a perfect example of a Pep player. Has played in many different roles, accomplishing all of them - and what about that performance in Istanbul? Wow. He will be missed for sure and wish him the absolute best of luck in his next chapter. Sir John.

Steve: MOTM in the Champions League final. A fit John Stones walks into most sides. He gets the Blues excited.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City defender John Stones will bring an end to his 10-year stay at Etihad Stadium at the end of this season.

The 31-year-old became Pep Guardiola's second signing after penning his first club contract in August 2016, joining from fellow Premier League side Everton in a £47.5m deal, but his current deal was set to expire this summer.

Stones has carved out a trophy-laden career in the north west, making 293 club appearances in all competitions while also netting 19 goals and contributing nine assists.

His 19-strong major trophy haul includes six Premier League titles, one Champions League win, two FA Cup triumphs, five EFL Cup successes, three Community Shields, a Club World Cup title and a Super Cup winners' medal.

The England international announced his decision in an Instagram video, external, saying: "What does Manchester City mean to me? It has been my home for the past 10 years and it will be the home for the rest of my life.

"It has been a rollercoaster in many ways. I came as a kid and now I'm leaving as a man, having become a father, a husband and a very fulfilled player on the pitch.

"I've lived all of my dreams out and I've lifted all the things that I came here to achieve. Every dream has been smashed out of the park.

"I can only relate it to me as a little kid. If you said to me: 'You will be playing at Manchester City, winning everything, the fans will be singing your name wherever you go in the world' - I don't think I would've believed it.

"The fans mean everything to me. I hope I've made them proud. I hope they can relate to me as a person and as a player in terms of how I've represented the club.

"I've got endless memories with everyone, which I'll cherish forever. I've been so lucky to be in every dressing room with such incredible people.

"It will always be my home - and I'm honestly thankful from the bottom of my heart.

"This is my team forever, it always will be. I haven't got the words to say how much I love everything about it."

Man City fans, how are you feeling about the announcement? Were you hoping for a different decision? How would you honour John Stones?

Let us know your thoughts here

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

The FA Cup is supposed to be about fairytales but Leeds and Southampton weren't able to keep those dreams alive, despite valiant efforts.

Manchester City will be waiting for Chelsea after initially fielding what was not far off a second string starting line-up. In reality it isn't about fairytales - it is about winning.

City's quality shone through in the end, even if it took 82 long minutes. When the final whistle went, no one was even slightly surprised that Pep Guardiola's men were still in the running for the domestic treble.

The question is, will City send out another weakened side for the final if the league chase is still neck and neck?

Had City still been in the Champions League, it wouldn't have surprised me. As it is Pep knows the importance of trophies for his legacy, so expect Erling Haaland and co. to be ready and waiting for Chelsea in three weeks' time.

Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

Image source, Getty Images

Jeremy Doku has become a "nightmare to play against", according to Wayne Rooney, who has compared the Manchester City winger to former Manchester United team-mate Nani.

The 23-year-old came off the bench to score and assist in Saturday's FA Cup semi-final victory over Southampton, and Rooney thinks Doku's upped his consistency this campaign.

Speaking on the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show, he said: "When we went off-air [on Saturday], I said to him 'when you went around the goalkeeper, why didn't you shoot?', and he said 'I was on my left foot and I've seen one of my team-mates in a better position'.

"So I said he needs to be a bit more selfish and he was laughing, but I thought he was brilliant when he came on.

"He's been a little bit inconsistent over the past couple seasons but this season I think he's been brilliant - a nightmare for defenders to play against.

"He is a player who will frustrate you as a forward. We used to have that with Nani. You don't know what decision they're going to make so it's difficult to read them but they will pull off moments of brilliance and I think he's been so much more consistent this season.

"When he's in that form it's so difficult for anyone to defend."

You can also listen to Doku's full post-match reaction with BBC Radio Manchester here

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City will "slip up once or twice" in the Premier League title race to crown Arsenal champions, says former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.

Arsenal moved three points clear of Pep Guardiola's side at the weekend with a 1-0 victory over Newcastle United, while City dropped to second with a game in hand.

"I thought the Newcastle game was so important," Rooney said in the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show. "If Arsenal go and win that then they really can go and win every game. That was such a big win.

"I feel City have a couple of tricky games in there coming up and I can see them slipping up once or twice."

But despite predicting Arsenal as title-winners, when co-host Kae Kurd asked Rooney which dressing room he would rather be in, Rooney said: "City's - 100%.

"It depends what you're going for. In terms of the Premier League race, you'd rather be in City's one because, [although] I think Arsenal will win it, it's a challenge for City to go and win it again.

"But for Arsenal, all the pressure is on them to go and win the league."

Let us know which team you would rather be right now

Watch The Wayne Rooney Show on BBC iPlayer or listen on BBC Sounds

We asked for your views after Saturday's FA Cup semi-final win over Southampton.

Here are some of your comments:

Pat: Different game when Doku came on - he put the fear into Southampton's defence and was involved in a lot of what we did well in the second half.

Harry: Very good performance against possibly the most resilient defence and goalkeeping we've seen all season. So with that said, the negatives. Marmoush can do nothing other than shoot - unless he improves his dribbling, ball-carrying and first touch, he's not suitable as a back-up. Foden was completely invisible and Savinho's decision-making is terrible, although his dribbling is good. The positives: Kovacic has to stay, Gonzalez deserves more minutes and us losing Trafford will be a terrible decision. Southampton were incredible and would 100% have deserved that final. Credit to their fans and good luck in your promotion bid.

George: That's City for you. You can frustrate them and thwart them, as Saints did admirably (and with a superb goal by the way), but then they just pull it out of seemingly nowhere. Saints were great at times, but them's the breaks.

Alan: Got away with one big time. Big doubts when the team was announced because of too much change. Disappointed in Foden, which breaks our hearts. Doku changed the game. Well done Saints - the team and fans did your club proud.

Lotfi: Manchester City always had it difficult against the Saints. Back in 2017, it took Sterling's 96th-minute goal to win it at the Etihad. In the last game of the centurion season, we had to wait to the 93rd minute for Jesus to score at St Mary's stadium. In 2023, the Treble season, they knocked us out of the League Cup. They were very organised and disciplined defensively, but City always find a way to break defences and get the result. Now, FA Cup aside, let's refocus on the league. Come on, City.

Youssef: On to a fourth FA Cup final in a row - domestic treble, here we come!

Brian: City dug deep and, in doing so, dug out a hard-fought victory. Exciting football and Southampton defended in packs. Space in the Southampton goal area was at a premium. This was end to end in the last 20 minutes and both sets of fans can rightly be proud of a feast of attacking and defensive football. City had the vast amount of possession and their failure to convert this to more goal chances is a concern going into the final stages of two trophies. Pep was obviously concerned and the high number of substitutes in the last 25 minutes was evidence of frustration. However, a win in normal time is a bonus and the squad was primarily injury-free at the final whistle. As it stands, City have one hand on the FA Cup. They do, however, need more goals to win the Premier League. Keep ball won't win the league.

John Stones has offered his services to Barcelona as he edges closer to leaving Manchester City when his contract expires in June. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

Meanwhile, Bernardo Silva is attracting interest from Juventus, Barcelona, Paris St-Germain and Al-Hilal. (Caught Offside), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Danny Murphy joins Jason Mohammad to bring you the action and talking points from the weekend's FA Cup semi-finals.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Man City 2-1 Southampton

• Chelsea 1-0 Leeds

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

This time last year, Liverpool were thrashing Tottenham to win the Premier League, with Manchester City 18 points behind during a season in which they failed to win a major trophy.

Pep Guardiola pointed out his side did win the Community Shield but by his impeccable standards, the campaign had been a major disappointment.

City sealed qualification for the Champions League on the final day, which proved to be high point, as further dismay followed in the Club World Cup in the United States.

Established stars such as Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Jack Grealish and Ederson were allowed to leave in the summer, and there were questions marks over the rebuild with a cohort of younger players brought in.

Doubts only grew with a sticky start featuring two defeats in their opening three games this season, then starting 2026 with three consecutive draws, but the new blood appears to be flowing at the right time.

They got a taste of silverware by lifting the Carabao Cup and will be heavy favourites in the FA Cup final whether they face Chelsea or Leeds United, but regaining the Premier League may prove the toughest challenge.

City went top of the table on goals scored by edging to victory at Burnley on Wednesday but find themselves back in second and chasing Arsenal once more after the Gunners ground out a victory over Newcastle.

The Spaniard said: "Six games – if we win we will be there, if we lose it is over. People ask to define [City], how many Champions Leagues? How many this and that? To define the club, five Carabao Cup [wins] and playing four FA Cup finals in a row.

"You can always have a bad afternoon, a bad day with injuries and you cannot be there. In the Premier League, always we were there. We are in the final again, we have time to prepare with our fans. Now it is easy because it has been a tough week mentally and physically."

Former City defender Micah Richards said on BBC One: "When it looked like Manchester City were down and out, they found it from somewhere and that is what champions do.

"I still see some frailties in City's game on transitions, but at this moment in the season it is all about big moments, and they are taking the big moments."

Read more here

Manchester City bos Pep Guardiola speaking to BBC Sport: "Exceptional [performance]. It was difficult but the wingers when they came in changed the pace.

"The first time they crossed the halfway line they made a fantastic goal. Football is always unpredictable but the way we played in the second half was extraordinary."

On if he expected Nico Gonzalez to score the winner: "No I expect it more from the wingers and strikers but he deserves it. He has made an incredible season and what a goal. He has to believe in himself more that he can do more and not play to be safe. That is the mentality he has to play with as a holding midfielder. He is a young guy and can improve a lot."

On what he said to Tijjani Reijnders after he was substituted off: "I said I want to kill him because how good he played. Tijjani is another guy who didn't play the last games but he did really good."

On an exciting end to the season: "It's always nice to be here fighting against top teams. No team has made four finals in a row [before]. It's extraordinary and hopefully we can arrive with a good momentum."

City's winning goalscorer Nico Gonzalez, speaking to BBC Sport and asked first if he has ever scored a better goal: "I don't remember to be honest, maybe last season but it wasn't that good to be fair.

"It was amazing to score at the end. In this amazing stadium, with this atmosphere, an amazing feeling.

"I had chances to shoot because they were defending so deep. I was waiting for the chance and I gave it everything.

"It has been a really important week for us. We are alive in the league and in another final. This will be my second FA Cup final and I hope we can win it."

Did you know?

• Manchester City have become the first ever side to qualify for four consecutive FA Cup finals.

• Pep Guardiola has now won 45 of his 53 matches with City in the FA Cup, with his 85% win rate being the highest of any manager in the competition's history – he has now qualified for five finals, only George Ramsay, Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have reached more (8 each)

• Erling Haaland has now played eight matches for Manchester City at Wembley without scoring, the only venue he's played at more than twice without scoring a goal for the Cityzens.

Listen to Guardiola's chat with BBC Radio Manchester here

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Man City's performance

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has gambled with his team selection by playing many of his second string for this FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

There are eight changes in total from the side that beat Burnley in midweek.

John Stones plays for the first time since the win over Newcastle in the earlier rounds and he also take the captain's armband, with his long-term future at City unclear.

James Trafford starts in goal, with the likes of Nathan Ake, Nico Gonzalez, Mateo Kovacic, Tijjani Reijnders, Phil Foden and Omar Marmoush all coming in.

Gianluigi Donnarumma, Abdukodir Khusanov, Marc Guehi, Bernardo Silva, Nico O'Reilly, Antoine Semenyo, Jeremy Doku and Erling Haaland all drop out.

Man City XI: Trafford, Nunes, Stones, Ake, Ait-Nouri, Gonzalez, Kovacic, Reijnders, Cherki, Foden, Marmoush.

Championship high-flyers Southampton make six changes from their draw against Bristol City last time out.

Welington, Caspar Jander, Cameron Braggs, Tom Fellows, Leo Scienza and Ross Stewart all come into the side.

Flynn Downes is suspended, while Ryan Manning, Shea Charles, Kuryu Matsuki, Cameron Archer and Cyle Larin drop out.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis captains the Saints against his old side.

Southampton XI: Peretz, Bree, Harwood-Bellis, Wood, Welington, Jander, Bragg, Fellows, Azaz, Scienza, Stewart.

Southampton drew with Bristol City on Tuesday but, before then, they had won seven in a row in the Championship, and they played really well to knock Arsenal out in the last round too.

I was at St Mary's Stadium when Saints knocked Manchester City out of the League Cup in 2023, which shows you what could happen here.

I don't see a shock this time, though.

Tonda Eckert has done a phenomenal job with Saints but I still think City will come out comfortable winners, as long as they are not as wasteful as they were against Burnley.

Sutton's prediction: 3-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here