Ruben Dias has hit back at the critics who claim Manchester City are finished as a genuine force in football.
The English champions have been left in shock following a winless run of seven games. Four league defeats on the spin have left City's hopes of defending their Premier League title in tatters.
Sunday's crushing 2-0 loss at Liverpool left them a staggering 11 points adrift of the league leaders after just 13 games. While a stunned Pep Guardiola now finds himself in the worst run of his entire managerial career.
READ MORE: Man City star Stefan Ortega told 'he'll regret' brutal dig at city of Liverpool after loss
READ MORE: Pep Guardiola learns truth in Liverpool humiliation as Man City empire 'burning to ground'
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City, who host Nottingham Forest at the Etihad on Wednesday night, are also struggling to reach the Champions League knockout stages. City's dramatic fall from grace has left the football world stunned.
But Dias has blasted back and insisted Guardiola's side have what it takes to bounce back. And the Portuguese defender reckons the time has come for the players to show what 'warriors' they can be.
Pep Guardiola
Pep's side lost again on Sunday (Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Dias said: "You know you are speaking to one of the players from a team which has won the most in recent years? So we will have a think about that - and be sure we know how to deal with it.
"These are the ones everyone wants to play (games at Liverpool). These are the games everyone will remember. And these difficult circumstances in the stadium, and what we are going through, this is when you will see the warriors you have next to you."
Dias insists Guardiola's squad remains united - and has backed City to find that winning mentality again. He added: "We're all together. Players, staff, we're all together and looking ahead to Nottingham Forest.
Manchester City's German goalkeeper #18 Stefan Ortega (2L) protests against decision by Referee Chris Kavanagh (2R) during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on December 1, 2024
Manchester City were humiliated by Liverpool (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
"It's part of legacy that difficult moments will come. We have won a lot and of course you can't win every time. There are always tough moments within a season, there were tough moments last season, there were tough moments two seasons ago as well.
"I don't know how to rank which has been the toughest, but there has been one constant for us throughout all of these difficult moments - and that is to think about the next game - nothing else.
"At the end of the day everyone in the dressing room wants to win. We don't know anything else. Now we get our mentality in the right place and think about the next game. This is always the exercise.
"Whether it's now or after having won so much. We have to keep going, we have to keep our mentality, because in the end it's mentality that makes you win."