RUBEN’S MY ROCK OF AGES
PEP GUARDIOLA has hailed Ruben Dias as his new ‘Mr Reliable’ at Manchester City. Portugal star Dias wasn’t cheap – arriving at the Etihad for £61million from Benfica at the end of the extended summer transfer window. But the robust centreback has quickly emerged as an very influential leader in City’s defence, and Guardiola said: “That’s the best thing about it. “You make a big signing but you know that the influence in the team is important tant when he’s also o able to play every three days. “The quality is always there – but when you have a player and he’s injured every two, three weeks, or has to stop every month, that’s not good for the team or the club. “Ruben can play every three days and he can recover immediately. “His ability is incredible but he also wants to learn more and has the thinking already to understand the game.” The impact of Dias (left) on City’s defence – and Guardiola’s dig at ‘injury prone’ players – is not good news for Aymeric
Laporte who has only played eight games this season.
The Frenchman, currently recovering from a hamstring injury, was dropped after City’s 2-0 defeat at Tottenham in November – leaving Dias to form an bright partnership with John Stones (below).
“We’re all impressed by Ruben and his body and mind every day,” Guardiola (above) added. “He lives 24 hours a day for his profession aged 23 years.
“I can assure you that we have signed an incredib incredible player for the next five, six, s seven years – they are not easy to find.”
Guardiola has also l lauded the co composure of City’s back-up keeper, USA international Zack Steffen – and claimed he can even challenge Covid victim Ederson for more games.
The 25-year-old signed from MLS side Columbus Crew for £4.5m in July 2019 before going on loan to Dusseldorf who were then in the German top flight. This season he has stepped in to help City win at Manchester United and Chelsea with Ederson sidelined.
Guardiola said: “He can fight to be in the first position. He can put pressure on Ederson.
“Ederson is our No.1 but he has to be good because he has to know that Zack is there.
“What is important is that Zack has played well in some incredibly tough games with only a few matches behind him, and he solved all the situations brilliantly.”