Man City captain Ruben Dias recently sat down for an interview with NBC Sports, where he discussed the changes Man City has undergone with the arrival of new coach Enzo Maresca and recent player movements. He also expressed his excitement about maintaining the team's high standards and continuing their winning ways under Maresca's leadership. The following is the first part of this exclusive interview.

Related reading:

Today, we are delighted to welcome Portugal national team and Man City star Ruben Dias. First of all, Ruben, how have you been? How's life in Manchester? Did you have a good summer break? Although Man City has undergone many changes during this period, you have still performed exceptionally well at the start of the season. Can it be said that everything has gone smoothly so far?

Yes, it was a great summer. Although the break wasn't long, it was very pleasant. Now we're back into the season. I'm very excited about everything that's to come. Obviously, as you said, the team has undergone a lot of changes, with new players joining and teammates leaving. And, of course, the new coach's arrival has brought new tactical ideas at certain levels. Overall, everyone feels good about the current situation, which is very exciting.

Speaking of Man City, with so many changes, some outsiders believe this might affect your pursuit of various titles this season. But from what you just said, it seems that's not the case. Do you feel the same way? Given that Enzo Maresca previously served as an assistant coach at Man City, does this mean the tactical adjustments are relatively minor, and the players have adapted to these new ideas quite naturally?

Yes, ultimately, Enzo was one of the coaching staff members of that treble-winning team. He had been at Man City for a season, and it was by no means an ordinary season. As for other changes, the club naturally makes the decisions it deems necessary, and perhaps at this point, such significant adjustments are indeed necessary. We just face them calmly and move forward. It's clear that the newly joined players all come with a winning mentality; they are ambitious. Therefore, we fully implement Enzo's tactical ideas and move forward steadily, and everyone is highly motivated.

Since we've mentioned that glorious treble-winning season, what role did Enzo Maresca play in it? Can you share some details you remember, such as key moments when he guided you on the training ground, and how he provided substantial help to you during that incredible season?

At that time, he was an assistant coach—more precisely, a core assistant coach for the team. So his influence was obviously crucial. We shared many wonderful memories during that period. But at the same time, all of that is in the past; it belongs to history, a beautiful chapter. What we want to write now is a brand new chapter.

In terms of technical and tactical play, what changes do you think have occurred? I believe everyone has seen some subtle shifts, but are the adjustments Maresca brings merely details? Can you tell us what Man City's specific experience has been like in this regard so far this season?

I'm not going to reveal too many tactical details, as I feel it's not my place to elaborate. However, there are obviously some detailed adjustments that make the style of play completely different. But on a macro level, the overall framework is still very close to what we have always pursued: the way we try to exploit our opponent's weaknesses, the importance we place on possession, and how crucial ball control is for us. Of course, in terms of how we press opponents and the intensity we display in games, we are doing our utmost to further improve, working hard to refine every aspect to the highest standard, thereby achieving maximum efficiency on the field.

Ruben, as one of the leaders of this Man City team, leadership seems to come naturally to you, and you appear to enjoy playing this role. Is that true? Your performance on the field almost makes one feel that you are a born leader. Can you describe this feeling?

Actually, I don't feel like I'm obsessed with the "leader" role. What I truly love is winning. Because of this, I've always been this way; I always put the team first, rather than focusing too much on myself. Ultimately, as long as we can win, as long as I can get everyone on the same page, thinking and working towards the same goal, I will do whatever it takes. So I think this mainly stems from my principles, from my understanding of football, and from my attitude towards pursuing victory.

Ruben, the other day I looked at the starting lineup for the last first-team match, and in that lineup, only Phil Foden had been at Man City longer than you. For you, this represents an extremely long and stable commitment. What do you think is the root cause of all this? Before you knew it, you had already spent a considerable amount of time at Man City.

What do I attribute this to? My ambition, the club's trust in me, and of course, the fact that we have won countless honours together. Today, yesterday's glory is in the past, and we aspire to win more, to reach the top again. Therefore, essentially, whatever happens in the future stems from our ambitions being perfectly aligned with the club's grand vision.

How important is mental resilience over these long years? We all know how demanding top-level competition is physically, but being at the pinnacle of world football, maintaining a state of readiness for high-intensity matches every three days for years—can you describe to us how difficult this is and what you need to endure for it?

Sometimes you do feel the heavy load. The games are extremely dense, and it's very draining. But as I just mentioned, I am always surrounded by extremely excellent players, some of whom have even ended their careers. In those moments, besides seeing them celebrate their achievements, I also witnessed their sadness because they could no longer compete on the field. I transformed this realization into an excellent opportunity to examine myself and my career, to deeply reflect on how important it is to cherish every day, and to be grateful that I am here at this moment.

This is my seventh season competing at the top level of the Premier League, and I love this Sport deeply. I even wish this time would never end. But one day it will end, and because of that, I am fully focused on enjoying everything it gives me: from every training session to every match, every opportunity to step onto the pitch and work hard in this jersey, and being in an environment where everyone around me is as eager to win as I am, where everyone is ambitious. This is a great blessing, and sometimes this fortune might be obscured by busyness, easily overlooked in the fast-paced flow and high-intensity rhythm. But I see it very clearly; I know this is very likely the greatest joy of my life, so I want to enjoy it as much as possible.

AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com