Rúben Dias is confident Manchester City’s 2-0 defeat at Paris Saint-Germain will have zero impact on the Premier League champions’ trip to Liverpool on Sunday, the third of three challenging away matches.
City beat Chelsea 1-0 in the first, Saturday’s league game, before going down to strikes from Idrissa Gueye and Lionel Messi in Tuesday’s second Champions League Group A match at Parc des Princes. The loss leaves Pep Guardiola’s side third, a point behind PSG and Club Brugge, but Dias is not concerned it will affect confidence when playing the Premier League leaders at Anfield.
“It affects nothing,” the centre-back said. “Essentially we know what we are capable of and we know our identity. We know what we need to do at Anfield to win. It is a loss and we are frustrated but that is the good habit of being a top team. Obviously we will take it [the defeat] but in no time will be there again.
“Essentially it was a frustrating match for us because the team was there. We created chances, the team were good against a tough opponent … Essentially I think it was a matter of us not finishing what we created. We are disappointed because we demand everything we can from ourselves, individually and collectively.”
Of the wide open group Dias said: “We can win every single game. We just need to do it and that is the big difference between thinking about it and actually doing it. Now, the major focus is on Sunday’s game at Anfield.”
Messi’s impressive 20-yard finish was his first goal for PSG. Dias enjoyed the challenge of defending against the 34-year-old and the Argentinian’s forward partners, Kylian Mbappé and Neymar.
“I would say that is the best you can have,” he said. “If you want to be at the top, if you want to be No 1, you need to play against some of the best. It is always challenging.”
