Manchester City will host Paris Saint-Germain in the second round of the Champions League group stage on Thursday at 03:00 CET. Ahead of the match, Rúben Dias attended the team press conference and spoke about how the team is dealing with the Premier League allegations and his expectations for the game. Related link: [Rúben: We Trust in the Club, Not Everyone Will Be Happy to See Us Win]

When the news broke three years ago, everyone stood by the team. This time, the storm has hit during the international break when players are scattered across the world. Has this changed the dynamic between teammates, requiring you to reach out to each player individually?

To be honest, after the news broke, we all felt it was necessary to talk things through properly. As soon as everyone returned to the team, we communicated immediately, unified our thoughts, and strengthened our mental state before moving forward. We weren't together when it happened, but we communicated quickly, composed ourselves rapidly, and continued with our preparations.

With so many things happening at once, as captain, do you feel the burden of keeping the entire team's morale up?

Actually, it's not different from previous years. The captain's responsibility has never changed. As captain, I step up when needed. This challenge may look different, but I've faced similar situations before, and I'm ready. The other three captains and everyone in the team will be together. We will protect the club and fight for it. We believe in the club.

The celebrations after Sunday's match have also drawn considerable criticism. Pep Guardiola recently said in an interview, "We won 3-0 at Anfield. What else do people expect us to do?" You also won at Anfield with the team last season. Comparing those two victories with Sunday's win, did it bring more, less, or equal satisfaction?

I strongly agree with what the manager said. Winning at Anfield is always important, no matter when it happens—early season or late season. Whenever we can secure a victory there, we enjoy it equally and celebrate according to how we feel in the moment. This shows how much this victory means to us.

You mentioned that many people don't like to see Manchester City win. Do you feel that even though the team plays well, many people in England don't want to see you succeed?

That's not what I meant. It's perfectly normal: when you win, some people will inevitably be unhappy because they have their own ambitions to win the title too. We simply focus on doing our job.

Following on from the celebrations, when you read media reports and listen to radio and television commentators, do you feel that the outside world is telling players how they should respond to the current controversy?

No, we simply do what we should do: play on the pitch, play football, and strive for victories. That's the answer.

Erling Haaland spoke about the team's strong mentality after the Liverpool match. Has everything that happened this week brought the dressing room even closer together? In such circumstances, how important is Erling Haaland as a leader in the team for you and for everyone?

He's one of us, just as important as everyone else in the team. When he speaks about mental strength, it shows precisely that everyone is calm and mentally strong enough in this environment, focusing on their own work, believing in the club, and playing with a smile. This perfectly demonstrates the character of this team.

A few moments ago, you said Paris Saint-Germain is the strongest team in Europe. Many French fans are asking whether PSG can win the Champions League three times in a row. I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Of course, I hope they won't. PSG is undoubtedly a strong team, and we have to acknowledge that. I know many players in their squad and am aware of their quality. You can see their tactical flexibility and variety at every stage of the match. The Portuguese players I know in their team also reflect the quality of this squad. To beat them, you have to play at a very high level, and that's what we're aiming for.

One last question: I'd like to ask about Khusanov's recovery status. He hasn't been able to play yet.

He's one of us too. He's extremely talented and has a strong physical frame. When he returns, he'll be able to contribute to the team again.

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