Manchester City defender Ruben Dias addressed the media at the City Academy Stadium, sharing his thoughts on the highly anticipated Champions League clash against Real Madrid. The Portuguese center-back emphasized that despite injuries to Real Madrid’s defense, Manchester City must match their level to succeed.
Dias also dismissed concerns about Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland’s rivalry, stating it’s not a “Mbappé vs Haaland” narrative, but rather a “City vs Madrid” clash. He acknowledged that Madrid have more flexibility in the Champions League and emphasized the need for Manchester City to be solid.
The defender also addressed last season’s loss to Real Madrid, which came on penalties after Manchester City dominated the game. Dias expressed determination to overcome the frustration from last year’s defeat, believing that with faith in his team’s talent, they can achieve something special despite this season being their toughest yet.
“We have to believe in our ability to do anything,” Dias said. “This has been the most difficult season since I’ve been here, but I firmly believe that we can achieve something beautiful from a situation like this.”
Source: https://www.managingmadrid.com/2025/2/10/24363037/ruben-dias-dominated-real-madrid-pre-game-press-conference-champions-league-manchester-city-quotes