- Nabeel
"You have my back, I have yours" – Ruben Dias extends Manchester City contract until 2027
This morning, Manchester City announced the signing of Ruben Dias to a new six-year contract following the defender's stellar 2020/21 campaign, which saw the 24-year-old win the Premier League title, Carabao Cup, and a host of individual accolades like Premier League Player of the Season, Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year, City Player of the Year, UEFA Champions League Defender of the Season, and inclusion in the PFA Team of the Year.
Here's all the reaction, with the Portugal international speaking to the club's website along with Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain.
RUBEN DIAS
"I’m very happy to sign the new deal. I have enjoyed every single minute of my time at City since joining last year. Playing for City has surpassed all my expectations and it’s an absolute pleasure to be part of such an incredible squad. I would also like to thank Pep and the coaching staff for the way they have helped me to develop as a player and keep pushing me to improve. To be part of the squad that achieved so much last season was incredible and made us all hungry to achieve even more. Now I just want to try and play my part in helping us be successful this season and beyond.
"It means a lot and it speaks for itself. I am very happy, and I am also very happy that the club felt the confidence to do it. The club wants to be the best and that is an ambition I love and want to be a part of. I share the ambition of the club and that is probably one of the most important things."
Dias on individual awards and his teammates:
"You started with individual awards, I will start the other way around. I will start with the collective because without them any of it would not have been possible for me to receive. It means straight away that things worked and that we won big. So I think that's the biggest compliment someone can make to you."
Dias on his freshness ahead of the season:
"A very simple answer, last year and the year before I had four days of vacation. This year, I had two weeks. Now imagine how much rest [I've had]. I feel very good and I am feeling a lot of space to improve, do better and keep going. You have always got something to improve, even when you win big."
"There are lots of things to do, lots of things to get better and many trophies to win. Obviously [last season] was a great season, but the best season can only be the one that is coming. Everything starts from zero and for you to prove it again and again and again, that is the biggest trophy you can have in football. That is what I am coming for."
Dias on Pep Guardiola:
"One of the most important things is the way he pushes players. He knows what players he has and he knows he can push us. Many times, coaches, especially when they have good players, think there is a limit, but [he] has no limit. He always wants more and the best. That is something that makes everyone better every day.
"There are many [strengths]. It is difficult to choose one to say but I would consider the personality to play our game, no matter the circumstances or opponent. The personality to play what you believe in and not to change every time. I think that is one of the characteristics I like the most. Another, after many others, the way he sees the game, the way he sees the opponent, the way he sees their weaknesses and, at the end of it all, how easy it looks for us to exploit them."
Dias on what makes a good centre-back partnership:
"I think with many other things I could say, the most important one is: You have my back, I have yours. If you succeed, I succeed. If I fail, you fail. So if you have this in your mind, if you know how important this is, and if you know how important it is to make the guy next to you feel safe and to make them feel that he can trust you, I think that's the most important."
TXIKI BEGIRISTAIN
"Ruben’s new deal is great news for our club. Although he only joined us less than a year ago, in that time Ruben has already proved to be such a vital part of our squad. And it tells you everything about his quality and importance to the club that we wanted to recognise his impact with this new contract. He is everything you would want in a central defender and so much more and he will be a big part of our drive to bring even more success to the club over the next few years."
Written by: @NA1907_
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