Ruben Dias insists Manchester City are 'dangerous' again - and ready to inflict more pain on their rivals starting with Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final
15:25, 17 May 2025
Pep Guardiola consoles Ruben Dias during their nightmare season but it could have a happy ending
Pep Guardiola consoles Ruben Dias during their nightmare season but it could have a happy ending
Ruben Dias insists Manchester City are 'dangerous' again - and ready to inflict more pain on their rivals.
The deposed English champions will look to salvage something from a shambolic season by winning the FA Cup on Saturday. Pep Guardiola's side were out of the title race months ago and failed to make the knockout stages of the Champions League.
But ahead of the showdown with Crystal Palace at Wembley, Dias has warned his side are ready to remind the footballing world of their enduring brilliance. Guardiola is boosted by the return of key figures including Erling Haaland and Manuel Akanji, while Ballon d'Or winner Rodri is also close to being available again.
Dias said: "It's a lovely sight having everyone available. And when everyone is available, the conversation changes a lot and we get very dangerous.
"It's a massive one, even more so after the season we've had, to be in this final stage and have the opportunity to lift the trophy.
Ruben Dias speaking to Sky Sports
Ruben Dias had plenty of excuses after Manchester City's draw at Southampton but now he's looking forward(Image: Sky Sports)
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"We know how good it feels to win the FA Cup, and we know what it means to everyone, so it's a big one for us.
"It's our third FA Cup final in a row, so that's already quite a big achievement. It's a competition that means a lot to us.
"We've been defined by the Premier League wins, but I feel we've been defined by all of it, for the way we played - and everything counts in the end. The FA Cup is a major one for us - so we really want to win it."
Having ruled English football for the past decade, including winning six titles in seven seasons, City's collapse was as astonishing as it was unexpected.
A miserable run of just one win in 13 games between October and Boxing Day left they domestic campaign in tatters.
While City failed to reach the knockout stages in Europe for the first time under Guardiola.
And while City have gained some momentum in recent weeks, Dias believes the mental and physical toll it took to win a record four tiles on the spin could have caught up with Guardiola's stars.
He added: "It was definitely the consequence of many things. One of them was the fact we won four Premier Leagues in a row, and nobody has ever done that.
Ruben Dias says Manchester City do not have a "weak house"
Ruben Dias says Manchester City do not have a "weak house"(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
"Maybe this is the cost. The effort and mental discipline that is essential for the game we play. They were obviously troubled times for many reasons, but you shouldn't doubt each other because of a bad wave.
"That shows a weak house - and we're a strong house. If anyone doubted, maybe they should learn a lesson for the future.
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"When you're doing great or when you're not doing so great, the only time to look back is when the season is done. And the season isn't done yet.
"There's still a lot to fight for and a lot to accomplish, so it's one game at a time and push as much as we can.
"This team is made up of a lot of individual quality, but it's even made even more of this mentality, and feeling among each other that we're there and we're going to do it and be strong together.”