This Thursday at 3 a.m. Beijing time (CET) Manchester City will host Paris Saint-Germain in the second matchday of the UEFA Champions League group stage. Ahead of the match, Rúben Dias took part in the club's press conference. In the first part of the conference, he discussed how the team is handling the Premier League charges and his expectations for the game. Related news: [Rúben: After the verdict we all felt we needed to talk, to unite our thoughts and calm our minds.]

What's it like standing in front of these fans after such a match and everything that's happened over the last two weeks?

It's magnificent, truly magnificent. The fans are giving us incredible support; they've always been behind us. We will fight for them until the end. A win in such a difficult away environment feels very special; and it was the first game after the international break, and we all know those games are always tough.

Over the last six years you've experienced countless wonderful moments and the passionate atmosphere of the Etihad Stadium. Do you think tomorrow's match will be exceptionally special?

Let's wait and see. This is a serious clash, and I think everyone is looking forward to it. For us it's an opportunity to test our level. Our opponent is one of the strongest teams in Europe right now, possibly even the strongest, and we're looking forward to that challenge. I think the fans, like us, can't wait to be at the stadium. So yes, I think it will be a special match.

Reflecting on the celebrations after the match at Anfield, what was more satisfying for you: securing three points in that difficult away game at Liverpool, or was it more about the entire team responding to all the criticism directed at the club and team over the last two weeks?

It was a combination of both feelings, but the key thing is that we all know it's been difficult to take three points at Anfield in recent years. So undoubtedly that's the main reason. Ultimately, we play football to earn points and fight for the championship; that's our main priority.

The club has already appealed to the Premier League, but the team has faced significant criticism over the last two weeks, with intense public scrutiny. During Sunday's game, many Liverpool fans chanted "cheaters". As a team member, how do you cope with these voices and block out the external noise?

A player's growth process inherently involves learning to coexist with all sorts of external noise, whether it's what you just mentioned or other voices. Personally, and I think I can speak for the entire team, we are calm, we trust the club, we stay composed and focused on enjoying football.

We know our team's strength, and we want to make the most of it, work hard and win matches. That's all that matters to us. Whether there's a lot or little external noise, it's essentially the same thing. It's always been this way; not everyone is happy to see our victories, and we love to win.

You were in the team when charges were brought in 2023, and in that season you ultimately won the treble. Even if you decide to ignore the noise, do players turn these voices into motivation to keep winning on the pitch?

We've set that aside. The external noise is enormous, and it's almost impossible to completely ignore it. Even when we try to keep our personal lives separate and just scroll through our phones, we can't avoid seeing some things, but we're very good at concentrating on our work.

We train well, we enjoy our time at the club every day. Our focus is only on what we can control, and those are the things we've always stuck with and enjoyed. We fully trust the club and we love to win.

Переведено ИИ.

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