Stones: I'm not scared of Messi
Man City defender John Stones insists that he is not scared of facing Lionel Messi and is relishing the prospect of playing against Barcelona.
Rather than being stricken with fear, Stones says that he's looking forward to coming up against arguably the world's best front line of attackers.
"It doesn't scare me, no," said the England defender. '" think 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's the best player in the world, easily. He's one of a kind. I think 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 team. I think Luis Suarez has taken his game to another level since he was at Liverpool".
The former Barnsley and Everton defender also says that he's always admired Barcelona, but thinks that his side can get a positive result against the Catalan giants.
"It will be massive. Watching Barca as a kid, they're a massive team, top players, a great stadium and it will be big occasion for me, my family and the club," he added.
"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.
"I think we can go to Barcelona and get a big result with how we've been playing".