Ruben Dias Pep Guardiola
Ruben Dias has hailed his connection with John Stones at the centre of Man City’s defence. Dias was full of praise for his centre-back partner but argued that City’s defensive record recently is not just down to the two of them.
Ruben Dias said “The connection with John has been just brilliant. But I would like to say that it’s not just me and John. A brilliant example of that, I think it was against Brighton. We were winning 1-0 but struggling and then I see Kevin and Gundo dying on the pitch. You know, running back, running forwards. Dying. That moment just said to me, if these guys are running like that, who will not? If these guys give everything for the team, who will not? Trust is given. Trust is earned. So when you start to build that defensive point of view, if we’re not conceding, we’re closer to winning, and then everyone starts to believe in it. They see your will to accomplish that. That makes this team strong.”
Dias and Stones were able to keep a clean sheet in City’s victory over Aston Villa in midweek, with the duo both making important interventions with the score goalless. It was a performance that typified Dias’ form since moving from Benfica in the summer as he once again showed leadership against a lively Villa attack.
Ruben Dias said “John was doing perfectly at controlling the space. And then I came from behind and John probably doesn’t see me. I’m just telling him, ‘I’m here’, and he can cover the outside. It was me trying to tell John fast — because we don’t have all the time in the world — that he had help. I have never done it because I knew I was being watched. I’ve always done it because it was needed, because I didn’t want to suffer goals. Many times some people would try to misunderstand it. But after they got to know me, they would always have the same opinion: he doesn’t do it just to show it. When people speak to me, they see the mentality, they see the focus. They see how badly I want to be on top. Most of the time, my communication is just the most simple things that prevent the major things happening.”
Whilst plenty of attention has been given to the amount of clean sheets City have been keeping recently, yet Dias says not conceding is not enough for him to be satisfied.
Ruben Dias said “The other day someone said to me here in the club, ‘Ah, amazing, another clean sheet and I just said the thing that gives me most pleasure is not even the clean sheet. It’s the other team not even making one shot on goal. The thing that gives me the most pleasure is that my keeper doesn’t make a save. I’m a defender. I’m there to defend. Nowadays the idea is that a defender needs to do much more. My focus has always been on becoming better and doing more but I’ve never forgotten that, first of all, I’m a defender. If not me, then who else will take pride from defending? It gives me pleasure to make the other team feel powerless.”
The duo have formed a solid partnership at the back, which has provided the bedrock for Pep Guardiola’s side to regain their attacking vigour going forward.
