3 | Ruben Dias - 2025/26

[.db.]

Much improved this season.

A million times the player when Gvardiol is next to him.

Why Pep decided to break that up last week was a strange one.

That partnership will win us trophies over the next few years.

O’Reilly wasn’t fit to start at Villa after he was brought off injured against Everton. Ait-Nouri also wasn’t fit. So Gvardiol had to play LB.

So Dias had to be paired with Stones.

 

[alexmcity]

O’Reilly wasn’t fit to start at Villa after he was brought off injured against Everton. Ait-Nouri also wasn’t fit. So Gvardiol had to play LB.

So Dias had to be paired with Stones.

Also, no DM (Rodri, Nico, Kova) was fit enough to start and Pep thought Stones could help Reijnders at DM.

 

[Manc in London]

He has not been very good for a while now but when he came on I thought we defended with a bit more intelligence and calmness. He may not be great in the air and he looks like he is running in treacle at times but he is clearly a good leader and his defending of small spaces is high quality. Gvardiol could do with some of Dias' aggression, intelligence and leadership qualities.

Quite enjoyed Dias leaving his mark on a couple of Bournemouth players at the weekend.