Ruben Dias spoke about his first few months at Manchester City and his relationship with John Stones.
Manchester City’s new star Ruben Dias has been making headlines ever since he joined the Premier League on a transfer from boyhood club Benfica. The 23-year-old defender turned some heads after completing his move for a whopping amount of €68 million. Nevertheless, if anyone had any doubts before, they are a thing of the past now.
The partnership between Ruben Dias and John Stones at the back has provided the Citizens with some much-needed security in their defensive line. In fact, Manchester City have only conceded one goal with the pair out on the pitch. Despite this, the Portuguese defender believes that the duo isn’t entirely responsible for the recent clean sheets.
“The connection with John has been just brilliant,” Dias told Daily Mail. “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 Gundogan 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?”
“I’m a defender, I’m there to defend.”
Ruben Dias also discussed his position on the pitch and the feeling he gets when the Citizens end the game without conceding any goals.
“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.”
The 23-year-old star has been impressing pundits and analysts for his great positioning and ability to perfectly read the game. In fact, Dias’s influence can’t be understood by simply going over his stats. It’s only when you watch his movement out on the pitch that one can understand the effect he has on his team.
“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 in defending? It gives me pleasure to make the other team feel powerless.”
Be sure not to miss out on the latest news about John Stones
Download our brand new App and follow your favorite players, clubs, and much more
