Manchester City will host Paris Saint-Germain in the second round of the Champions League group stage. Ahead of the match, Ruben Dias attended the team's press conference. In the first part of the conference, he discussed how the team is dealing with the Premier League charges and his expectations for the game. 

How does it feel to stand in front of these fans, having just played such a game and experienced everything that's happened over the past two weeks?

It feels great, truly great. The fans have given us incredible support; they have always been behind us. We will fight for them until the end. It's a special feeling to secure a victory in such a difficult away environment, especially as it was the first game after the international break, and we all know those matches are always tough.

Over the past six years, you've experienced countless wonderful moments and the passionate atmosphere at the Etihad. Do you think tomorrow's match will be particularly special?

Let's wait and see. This is a heavyweight clash, and I believe everyone is looking forward to it. For us, it's an opportunity to test our level against one of the strongest teams in Europe, perhaps even the strongest. We are very much looking forward to this challenge. I think the fans, like us, can't wait to be in the stadium. So yes, I think it will be a special match.

Looking back at the celebrations after the Anfield match, what was more satisfying for you: securing three points in that difficult away game at Liverpool, or was it more about the team using that victory to respond to all the criticism against the club and the team over the past two weeks?

It was a mix of both emotions, but the main point is that we all know it hasn't been easy to get three points at Anfield in recent years. So, without a doubt, that was the core reason. Ultimately, we play to get points and compete for titles; that's our top priority.

The club has appealed the Premier League charges, but the team has endured a lot of criticism and intense external scrutiny over the past two weeks. During Sunday's match, many Liverpool fans chanted "cheaters." As a team member, how do you deal with these voices and block out external noise?

A player's growth involves learning to coexist with all sorts of external noise, whether it's what you just mentioned or other voices. Personally, I can speak for the whole team when I say: we are calm, we trust the club, we remain composed, and we focus on enjoying football.

We know the strength of this team, and maximizing our performance and striving for victory is all we care about. Whether there's a lot of external noise or a little, it's essentially the same. It has always been this way; not everyone wants to see us win, and we love to win.

You were part of the team when the charges were made in 2023, and that season you ultimately won the treble. Even if you choose to ignore the noise, do the players convert these voices into motivation to keep winning on the field?

We put that matter aside. The external noise is overwhelming, and it's almost impossible to completely ignore it. Even if we try to maintain our private lives and just scroll through our phones, we'll inevitably see it, but we are very good at concentrating on our job.

We train well, enjoy our time at the club every day, and focus our attention only on what we can control. These are the things we have always adhered to and cherished. We completely trust the club and love to win.

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