For many one other, the Premier League title would have been sufficient, particularly if it gave him a standing as a pivotal a part of solely the sixth workforce to win the English high flight in three successive seasons. Not Ruben Dias, nevertheless. He stated: “We’ve not done anything yet.”
It was a sign that Dias is just not specializing in the three-peat, however pondering of a special type of hat-trick: the treble. One down, two to go: Manchester City have clinched the Premier League. Now for finals on successive weekends: Manchester United within the FA Cup, Internazionale within the Champions League.
“We definitely know what we’re going for and we really want it,” stated the centre-back. “But we know if we start to think too far ahead then it will kill us. Our heads are on training. Little by little we think. Just think and do it.”
For a lot of footballing historical past, the double, the mix of the FA Cup and the English title, felt an unattainable dream, one thing no membership did between 1897 and 1961. Now it might be a stepping stone. “It’s a great achievement,” Dias stated. “We’ll celebrate it if we do and then we’ll think about what is coming because we are still not finished.”
It underlines the best way the Champions League represents the ultimate frontier for City. They are, arguably, underachievers within the FA Cup within the final dozen seasons, however it’s hardly ever talked about. Since the breakthrough of their first trophy in 35 years within the 2011 FA Cup, they’ve solely gained the competitors as soon as, as a part of the home treble Pep Guardiola’s aspect did in 2019.
City gained that closing 6-0, in opposition to Watford. Now for United, a workforce they’ve each overwhelmed and misplaced to this season. Their first assembly with Erik ten Hag’s United ended 6-3, although City led 6-1 till Anthony Martial’s late intervention. Dias is just not anticipating a repeat.
“It’ll be a tight game,” he stated. “A final is a final, it’ll always be tight whatever the odds. It’s a special competition for all of us and a special competition for the country. We want to win it very much.”
They have a number of motivations, from the possibility to beat native rivals to the pursuit of the treble. “The moment you start losing that fire, that spice for winning trophies then you’re not doing anything at this club,” Dias added. “My passion is still there. We really want to win again.”
That willpower has been obvious. Dias is certainly one of City’s five-man captaincy group. Cameras have caught him giving stirring speeches within the dressing room. He could channel Guardiola’s strategy, the sensation that no matter they do, they need to do extra.
“Although all of us have done great things, the demand is always very high,” he stated. “It starts mainly from the manager and the demand is always there. No matter what we do, individually or as a team, we’ll be asked for more and more. You have the personal demand of everyone as well. For us to be at the top this long is because everyone has it in himself.”
City’s prowess throughout numerous competitions has had one other profit for Dias. “At the end of the day we don’t train that much, because we play every three days,” he stated. “Training is not the most intense because we need to rest.” Which, in flip, means he doesn’t need to face the 52-goal striker Erling Haaland in coaching that usually.
Instead, he’s prone to be charged with stopping the 30-goal ahead Marcus Rashford on Saturday. United’s high scorer acquired the decider at Old Trafford in January. “We’ve played them, we know their strong points and weak points,” shrugged Dias. “United has many threats and we know them well. We know who can be dangerous and how they can be dangerous. Overall, United are dangerous because of the team they are and not any individual. Our biggest weapon is focusing on what we can do.”
Which may be intimidating sufficient. Minus Dias, and several other others, they misplaced 1-0 at Brentford on Sunday. It was, although, a primary defeat in 26 video games. Their victims in that run included Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Arsenal. Dias is match once more – “I’m on fire,” he stated – and, in addition to his defensive skills, that could be an omen. City haven’t misplaced a sport he has began since October. Now two extra victories will end this season in a method that even he may be happy.
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk