Ruben Dias Pep Guardiola
Ruben Dias wants Manchester City to approach the Champions League final vs Inter Milan just as they did the FA Cup final vs Manchester United – to show why they are favourites on the pitch. City backed up their pre-match status as favourites to lift the FA Cup with a 2-1 win over United at Wembley, and they are widely backed again this weekend to beat Inter Milan and win the Champions League for the first time. However, Dias is keen for City not to get carried away by any external expectations, and instead earn the right to be favourites when the final starts in Istanbul. Reflecting on how the Blues beat United last weekend,
Ruben Dias said: “A final will always be tight – no matter who is playing against who. From our experience, you are only favourites when you step out onto the pitch and show who you are. That’s the main focus we all need to have, and we showed it again [vs United]. We all knew this was not going to be an easy game.”
Taking that attitude forward to the Champions League final with Inter, Dias said that part of City’s preparations will include giving enough time to celebrate the FA Cup win before reconvening on Tuesday to begin preparations for Istanbul.
Ruben Dias said: “It’s something very special and we’ll be focused all in. Now the most important thing is to celebrate. We take it, know what we have done and take the moment in a special way. We have the week to think about it and prepare it. It will be a very difficult game. When it comes to a final, it’s always different. We will do our best to be ready for it. But now – more than anything else – it’s time to celebrate and that’s part of starting well for the next final.”
