Manchester City defender Ruben Dias has brutally reflected on his side’s lacklustre performance in a 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
Is this Ruben Dias' biggest season for Manchester City yet?
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The Blues were second best by a country mile in Enzo Maresca’s first competitive game as Manchester City manager following Pep Guardiola’s departure from the Etihad Stadium in May, bringing an end to a legendary decade of success at the club.
Conceding within the first 25 seconds of action in the Welsh capital, City began proceedings on the back-foot as Riccardo Calafiori slotted past Gianluigi Donnarumma - who displayed one of his poorest performances in sky blue since joining from Paris Saint-Germain last summer.
An in-transition side that has lost several senior stars this summer and is now also set to see Rodri move to FC Barcelona, Manchester City were predominantly toothless in attack and relied greatly on individual moments of brilliance from the likes of Jeremy Doku and Antoine Semenyo in wide positions.
Dias: Many things are changing, it’s a new manager
In an open and honest post-match interview with TNT Sports, Manchester City captain Ruben Dias broke down what went wrong for his side on a hugely disappointing afternoon in south Wales.
"Obviously not good enough, frustrating,” the Portugal international defender said. "First of all, thank you to the fans that came - obviously a long distance. Thank you to all of them for coming so far.
“I joined midway [through pre-season], this is the third game since I've been back, the feeling's been good. Today it's frustrating and it's a Final, obviously we all want to win. But if there's a lesson to be learned on a Final, let it be this one because there's a lot more coming.”
Kai Havertz made it two for Mikel Arteta and the Gunners on the half-hour mark after beating Ruben Dias to a header that many would have expected Gianluigi Donnarumma to thwart given his credentials at traditional shot-stopping.
Dias added, "It's the beginning of the season, it's not good enough, many things are changing obviously, a new manager as well. The way the game starts sets you off, they get comfortable in their game. In the end as well, this is just starting, and the most important thing is we're already looking forward to it and we'll be ready for our next game!”
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard made it three shortly after the half-time interval and despite coming close to a consolation a few times in what remained of the tie, Manchester City did not cover themselves in glory a week before they face Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium in the opening fixture of their 2026/27 Premier League campaign.
What is next for Ruben Dias and Man City?
The manner of Sunday’s loss will have given Enzo Maresca and Manchester City sporting director Hugo Viana plenty of food for thought as the Blues navigate the final weeks of the summer transfer window.
On what it has been like to work with the Italian manager in the opening weeks of the Enzo Maresca's tenure as City manager, Ruben Dias said, “It's obviously a positive energy and the feeling of a lot of work to put in.
“It's part of any transition for things not to be so perfect in the beginning, and you need to push through, keep on working, communicate, make things work between us and obviously with Enzo as well, and I feel we're in a very good way.
"But we need to keep working and obviously there's going to be lots of challenges along the way, and that's it. Stay positive, look forward, we have our first Premier League game very soon, and we're looking forward to it!”
With Rodri expected to complete a transfer to FC Barcelona this week, Manchester City are expected to progress their pursuit of Lille’s Moroccan international starlet Ayyoub Bouaddi and make a decision on whether they will test Chelsea’s resolve to keep Enzo Fernandez - who is reportedly keen to reunite with Maresca at the Etihad Stadium.