Defence will be key to Blues’ title win says Dias
PEP Guardiola may be refusing to look publicly beyond the next game, but City are building a title challenge.
They are in the top four for the first time this season and sit a point behind Liverpool and four behind United but have a game in hand.
City’s manager is insistent the next game always takes full focus. And while the players are buying into that message, they are less cautious about speculating over the future.
Ruben Dias and John Stones picked up their eighth clean sheet from nine games together in a remarkable partnership that has seen them concede just one goal on the pitch together.
That gave the Blues a platform not to lose games when they were struggling in attack and has remained in place even when things in front of them have clicked.
“When you are winning 1-0 the game starts to go to the final end,” said Dias. “Things tend to be like this. If we had scored just one of the many chances we had in the first half or the second half (against Brighton), the game would become different.
“We didn’t score, we needed to hang tight and we did it.
“Obviously we are happy because if you don’t concede you are so much closer to be able to win. We have just got to keep working on it and [against Brighton] the team showed a different face that might be very important for what is coming.”
CITY’S FA Cup fourth round tie at League Two Cheltenham will be played on Saturday, January 23 (5.30pm) and shown live on BBC TV.