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

When the news broke three years ago, everyone was with the team. This time, the issue emerged during the international break when players were scattered across the globe. Did this change how the players interact, requiring you to contact teammates individually?

Honestly, after the news came out, we all felt the need to have a proper talk. As soon as everyone returned to the team, we communicated immediately to align our thoughts, stabilize our mindset, and move forward. We weren't together when it happened, but we quickly communicated with each other, stayed calm, and continued our preparations.

With so many things happening simultaneously, as captain, you have to boost the team's morale. Is this a heavy burden?

It's actually no different from previous years; the captain's role never changes. Being captain means stepping up whenever needed. This challenge seems different, but we've experienced similar situations before, and I'm ready. The other three captains and everyone in the team will stand together. We will defend the club, fight for the club, and we trust the club.

The post-match celebrations last Sunday also drew criticism. Maresca just said in an interview: "We won 3-0 at Anfield, what else did people expect us to do?" You also won at Anfield with the team last season. Comparing the two, was the satisfaction from Sunday's victory stronger, weaker, or about the same?

I completely agree with what the coach said. Regardless of the timing, winning at Anfield is always significant. Whether it's the beginning of the season or later on, as long as we secure that victory, we will enjoy it equally and celebrate accordingly. This itself shows how important that victory was to us.

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

That's not what I mean. It's perfectly normal: as long as you win, some people will be unhappy because they have championship ambitions of their own. We just focus on doing our job.

Following up on the topic of celebrations, when you read media reports or listen to radio and TV commentary, do you ever get the feeling that the outside world is telling players how they should react to these ongoing controversies?

No, we only do what we're supposed to do: step onto the pitch, play football, and aim for victory.

Haaland mentioned the team's strong mentality after the Liverpool game. Has everything that happened in the past week united the dressing room even more? In this situation, how important is Haaland as a leader within the team to you and to the entire squad?

He is just one of us, as important as everyone else in the team. His mention of mentality precisely shows that everyone is calm and mentally strong enough in this environment, focusing on their work, trusting the club, and playing with a smile. This truly reflects the character of this team.

A few minutes ago you said Paris Saint-Germain is the strongest team in Europe. Many French fans are asking if Paris can achieve a Champions League three-peat. What are your thoughts?

Of course, I hope they can't. Paris Saint-Germain is undoubtedly a strong team; that must be acknowledged. I know several players in their squad and am aware of their abilities. You can see their tactical flexibility at various stages of a match, and the Portuguese players I know in their team also reflect the squad's quality. To defeat them, you need to perform at an extremely high level, and that's what we're striving for.

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

He's one of us, incredibly talented and physically strong. When he returns, he'll be able to contribute to the team again.

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