Dias believes Pep Guardiola’s decision to move on from several stalwarts has given Manchester City new energy
Bookmark popover
Ruben Dias believes Manchester City’s summer clearout has workedopen image in gallery
Ruben Dias believes Manchester City’s summer clearout has worked (Getty Images)
Your support helps us to tell the story
Read moreSupport Now
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
**Your support makes all the difference.**Read more
Ruben Dias has admitted Manchester City needed a huge overhaul to move on from their greatest generation and said their recent signings have given them an added hunger to win trophies.
Pep Guardiola broke up his treble-winning team by signing 13 players over three transfer windows in 2025 and 2026, at a cost of around £430m.
Meanwhile, some of City’s modern greats – and Dias’ long-time teammates – left, including Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Kyle Walker, Jack Grealish, Manuel Akanji and Ederson.
City’s new-look team could win their first piece of silverware together when they face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.
Defender Dias said: “Every player that came in, all of them kind of have this winning mentality. Independent of having won or not so much in the past, they come with this hunger. I feel like that's very much there to see, so that adds up to our purpose and it's just extra fuel.”
Guardiola has confirmed goalkeeper James Trafford will start at Wembley, ahead of another of last summer’s buys in Gianluigi Donnarumma, and while defender Marc Guehi is ineligible, a host of other recent recruits are in contention to figure, including Antoine Semenyo, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders, Omar Marmoush, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Abdukodir Khusanov.
Manchester City have built a new-look side this seasonopen image in gallery
Manchester City have built a new-look side this season (Getty Images)
City’s most successful side ever came to an end after a difficult season last year which included a run of nine defeats in 12 games and Dias felt change was required.
He explained: “We talked about it and it was something we did and I feel like it's taken a very much better route now and it was needed. So obviously lots of things changed after that period, we need to set the standard for a new season. It was needed and I felt like we did it at the right time.”
When Donnarumma arrived, his passing was deemed a weakness in his game by some onlookers but Dias said the Italian has been better with the ball at his feet than he expected.
Ruben Dias admits Manchester City’s squad have been surprised by Gianluigi Donnarummaopen image in gallery
Ruben Dias admits Manchester City’s squad have been surprised by Gianluigi Donnarumma (PA Wire)
“I think he surprised everybody,” he said. “People talk so much these days and by the time he arrived here I'd heard a lot more talk than actually games that I've seen him play and I've obviously seen a lot of his games but I don't see every week. I was very quick to run into the fact that he’s not bad with his feet. Okay, Eddie [Ederson] was a different kind of style and obviously a different approach but he can still do everything we need.”