I could Kyl you, Phil!
MBAPPE TAUNT HAS PUT DIAS IN DANGER
RUBEN DIAS could be forgiven for not knowing whether to give Phil Foden a hug or a kick up the backside.
Foden had just scored a stunning goal to seal a 2-1 win at Borussia Dortmund and book Manchester City a Champions League semi-finals spot.
Dias has had a front row seat this season to marvel at Foden’s development.
But he wouldn’t have appreciated a Tweet from Foden’s official account within two hours of the triumph in Dortmund, appearing to goad Kylian Mbappe.
The direct message to the French superstar asked the simple question ‘are you ready’, underneath a picture of Foden hammering his decisive shot into the Dortmund goal.
It was in direct reference to the fact City will face Mbappe’s Paris St-germain side in the last four, in what promises to be a blockbuster showdown.
It never fails to amuse me how footballers like Foden cup a hand round their mouths when talking to opponents on the pitch after a game – like he did with Erling Haaland following the final whistle on Wednesday night. Desperate to keep a conversation private, but spouting off to the world on social media isn’t a problem? Do me a favour.
Foden claims he wasn’t responsible, but it doesn’t matter who was because the chances are Mbappe (right) saw it and will now be revved up like never before to answer the question posed of him.
Which brings us back to Dias, who will know that poking a lion with a big stick is never a sensible thing to do.
There has been a lot to admire about Pep Guardiola’s side this season, not least the form of Kevin De Bruyne, Foden, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez to name but a few.
But the difference between being a side capable of winning one or two trophies and one with the chance to land all four has been provided by one man – Dias.
The Portugal defender has provided the missing piece to the jigsaw, made
those around him better and turned City into the complete team.
His impact cannot be overstated and he is the reason why City will go into the clash with Mauricio Pochettino’s men as favourites to reach the final.
Stopping a provoked Mbappe, along with Neymar and Angel Di Maria, is no mean feat but Dias now gives City the tools needed to win the biggest European games. Someone once said strikers win games, but defenders win titles – and that person was right.
So if City do go on and win a historic Quadruple, Dias will deserve the most plaudits and should be rightly crowned as the Footballer of the Year.