Thanks to four successive Premier League wins, City have re-entered the title race, looking to finally take their destiny back into their own hands. They are five points behind leaders Arsenal, who are scheduled to play at the Etihad Stadium in April.
City beat Arsenal in the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, when both teams competed fiercely for the Premier League title.
Dias believes experience means little in the ever-changing environment of England’s top-flight players. Nevertheless, he and his team are “very excited” to be joining the team.
“Every year there’s a new challenge, there’s a new opponent. Even if it’s the same opponent, the way you overcome it is different. So each one is a new challenge. That’s why we’re focused on Nottingham Forest.”
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‘We have to adapt’ – Guardiola on Premier League set-piece trends
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City are synonymous with late-season runs, often ending in silver medals. Pep Guardiola’s side, who have only lost once in the Premier League since November, continued to withstand pressure from leaders Arsenal and strengthened their attack with the signings of Antoine Semenho and Marc Guehi in January.
With Gianluigi Donnarumma replacing City’s long-time number one Ederson this summer, Dias says his relationships with those around him in defense are getting stronger day by day.
“Obviously every day is a new day,” Diaz said. “Every day we get better, we get closer and we understand each other better.
“But definitely, the impact is tangible. This is what we want: people to come and grow from there. And others have had a big impact, obviously Gigio is here a little bit longer. But obviously, and definitely, it’s a big help to our ambitions.”
City missed out on a major trophy for the first time in eight years last season and are aiming to return to the top with their only silver medal in the form of the Community Shield.
Coach Diaz, who is now back in contention for major honors, said it was a campaign his team needed to learn from.
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Manchester City’s Ruben Dias celebrates the victory with Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma during the Premier League match between Leeds United and Manchester City.
Image credit: Getty Images
“It’s definitely a difficult season,” he said. “Mainly because we weren’t great, and usually all we do here is excel.
“But it was definitely a period where we could learn a lot and improve a lot. It is also well known that this period was a strong transition period.
“We still managed to reach the FA Cup final and at the end of the season we made great progress towards qualifying for the Champions League, which was very important for us and for the club.”
Last summer, City’s key players Kevin De Bruyne and Ederson left the club.
But Dias, who is part of City’s leadership group, said on a personal level his focus was never disrupted by the departure of key players from the club.
“Every new season brings adaptations,” he said. “Before Kevin and Eddie (Ederson), it was Jinho (Fernandinho), Gundo (Ilkay Gundogan) and Kyle (Walker).
“Every time it keeps changing, you just have to adapt and it’s part of every day and it’s the way it is. I feel like I’m the same person right now, striving to be better and pushing for what I think is right. That applies to my leadership as well.”
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‘It’s not the knee’ – Guardiola remains silent about Haaland’s injury
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“I feel like I’m always growing, but since I’ve been at the club I’ve been the same person and I’m doing the best I can. Every season, yes, I adapt to whatever happens, but the feeling deep inside is always the same.”
Dias has recovered from just under a month on the sidelines with a hamstring injury and is ready to take on City’s key stages of the season.
“I feel like it was a very positive outcome,” he said. “Every time you take a step back in the season, the train keeps running and you have to get off the train and get back on the train.
“Even the fact that we qualified for the Champions League in the group stage without a play-off, we felt we did it from a very strong position.
“The last two weeks have been like pre-season for the team, as we are already in good shape and have had the time and space to train and get stronger. The timing couldn’t have been better.”
Dias on Premier League set-piece trends: ‘We just have to adapt’
With results in England’s first team now more than ever dependent on dead-ball situations, Dias feels players need to tackle the task at hand rather than ponder the evolving goalscoring landscape.
“That means the game is always changing,” he said. “Everything from set-pieces to defending to attacking. You just adapt to what’s coming at you. Especially in a position where you want to win, you keep winning and winning. You just adapt and don’t talk about it too much.”
City are not the biggest beneficiaries of such a scenario and for Dias, who is one goal away from his season-best three goals, scoring goals is something he “wants to improve on”.
But as always, the team comes first.
“I love trophies,” he said. “Definitely, that (goalscoring) is something I’m looking at, something I want to improve on and something I want to be a part of.”
“But what I want most is for the team to win. It would be great if we could achieve that, but even if we don’t, as long as we do what we have to do, I’ll be happy.”
