City's long hold on the crown slipped last season after a "humbling" campaign in which they failed to win a trophy but the defender insists that there is a burning desire to be successful again this term.

Stones said: "It was humbling for us after all the success that we’ve had.

"It makes us realise what we’ve done, what we’ve achieved over the years and how proud we should be, but we’re obviously frustrated at what we did last season. It’s not what we want to replicate.

"To finish third, three or four points behind Arsenal is – to our standards – not good, (nor) how we played through the season.

"We’ve got to put that right and get back to our identity, get back to winning matches and having that presence about us and believing in ourselves as a team.

"I’m sure we’ll find that and bring it back because it was tough last season to go through what we did. We’ve definitely come back with that fire in our bellies to go and achieve."

Stones is entering the last year of his contract at City but has dismissed speculation that he could be leaving the club.

The England international said: "It’s laughable to me. I understand why people do it but there’s nothing to comment on.

"I love it here, nothing’s happening. I’m here to fight and play and hopefully win some trophies."

City's squad has undergone significant change ahead of the new season with an influx of new players but Stones says that the evolution is just a part of football.

He commented: "Things evolve, football evolves, and the guys that have come in have been great.

"It takes a bit of time, obviously, to get used to the style of play, what’s expected, but the guys have come in for a reason.

"With the quality that they’ve got, the aspects of the game are different from what we’ve had in the past. I’m excited to play with them and see what they do."