Ruben Dias has been a star for Manchester City all season and was a rock of the defence that defied Paris Saint-Germain to clinch the Blues’ place in the Champions League final.
But any doubt that he is the man City have been seeking to replace the seemingly irreplaceable Vincent Kompany was swept away by the big Portuguese ace’s interview straight after the 2-0 second-leg win.
Dias has all of Kompany’s footballing qualities - technically excellent, rugged, physical and sharp, allied to an irresistible will to win football matches.
But he spoke after the game in perfect English of the quality and character of the City squad that has taken them to the promised land.
Kompany was a diplomat and a motivator in his time at City, as well as a leader on the pitch, and Dias is the same.
He said City were prepared for what PSG would throw at them last night, but claimed the real triumph, the real essence of this team, was on display in the second half in Paris, when they came back from a goal down to take a 2-1 lead into the second leg.
“When you saw the real character of our team was when we were in Paris and went to half time losing 1-0,” he said. “We came back and put on a show. That says the most about our team. When the difficult times come, we step up.
“It’s not just the last two games of the Champions League. Dortmund was the same, also a tough game, and it has been like this for us since the beginning of the season.
“When you play in the Premier League, then you know - and the FA Cup, and the Carabao, and the Champions League - and you play everything to win it, then you know how difficult it is.
“It’s the best way for people to see how hard we work, how good we were and how good we can be.”
Dias is among the favourites to win the player of the year trophies after an astonishing debut season in which he has been key in transforming a suspect defence into a key weapon in City’s armoury.
But when asked about the individual contribution of Kevin De Bruyne, he made it plain he has bought into the Pep Guardiola mantra of the collective being superior to the parts.
“It helps having Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Riyad Mahrez, Fernandinho, Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, all four at the back, the keeper,” he said.
“It helps having Sterling on the bench to come in, Gabriel Jesus on the bench to come in, so many others that didn’t even come in.
“That's our most powerful strength, the quality we have playing and the quality we have on the bench.”
What makes Dias’ impact more incredible is that he came to Manchester, as a 23-year-old, during the Covid pandemic and has had to build a new life and career at a time of lockdown and restrictions, limits that have been tough for everyone.
So it was no surprise that when asked who he would be ringing first to share the success, he named the two people who came to live with him in Manchester.
“My family, my girlfriend and my brother who are waiting for me at home,” he replied.
