Manchester City's new captain Ruben Dias has hailed the winning mentality of the club's summer arrivals, insisting the entire squad has embraced the vision of head coach Enzo Maresca as the club enters a new era.
City spent a Premier League record £458m during the transfer window, bringing in midfielders Enzo Fernandez, Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi among others. The outlay was partially offset by more than £300m recouped in sales, but those departures included significant figures such as 2024 Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, ex-captain Bernardo Silva and England defender John Stones.
Dias, who arrived from Benfica for £65m in 2020 and has long been part of City's leadership group, was recently given the captain's armband. He described the transition as a natural continuation of his role rather than a shift in mentality.
"In terms of the role I have, it goes down to trying to be the best version of yourself, and in terms of that, nothing has changed," Dias said in an interview with the Football Interview. He acknowledged the scale of change at the club, noting that many decorated players had left just as a wave of highly motivated newcomers arrived. "So many people have left and so many winners have left, and now new people have joined with a lot of ambition and people that are desperate to win and that is also what makes the club keep on going," he explained, adding that established figures like Enzo Fernandez could help set standards for the group. "Others, Enzo included, that have been here and have won so much here and can very clearly point the way of how to do it and the things that are the most important and undeniable."
The upheaval extends beyond the playing squad. Maresca has taken charge following Pep Guardiola's decision to step down after a decade at the helm, a period that brought unprecedented success including the 2023 Treble. Maresca, who previously served as Guardiola's assistant before managerial stints at Leicester City and Chelsea, was described by Dias as the ideal candidate given his familiarity with the club's culture. Dias admitted Guardiola's exit was a difficult moment but expressed confidence that Maresca's inside knowledge made him well suited for the transition.
Asked about specific differences in Maresca's methods compared to his predecessor, Dias pointed to tactical adjustments in pressing and defensive structure, along with a broader shift in overall approach. "I feel like everything is making a lot of sense. Everyone is buying into the idea. Everyone's excited about it and there is a lot of joy in training, which is massively important," he said.
City have opened the campaign with four consecutive wins across the Premier League and Champions League, though a challenging trip to Manchester United awaits this weekend.
At 29, Dias is now among the club's longest-serving players, having made more than 250 appearances and collected four Premier League titles, a Champions League crown and two FA Cups. He remains one of only four survivors from City's 2023 Treble squad, alongside Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Rico Lewis. Last summer he signed a contract extension through 2029, with an option for a further year.
Reflecting on the club's evolving identity, Dias said he views the changes as part of football's natural cycle. "It's the circle of life, you can call it and it is just how things are. I am appreciative of all of it," he said, expressing gratitude for past teammates while looking forward to new memories with the current squad. He added that remaining ambitious over a long career would be his greatest personal achievement, concluding simply: "I am excited. I think excited is the word."
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.