A Manchester City legend exclusively tells Sports Mole why Ruben Dias does not need to be made permanent captain to succeed Vincent Kompany after his new long-term contract extension.
Manchester City centre-back Ruben Dias has filled Vincent Kompany’s boots expertly, and the Portuguese does not need the captain’s armband to demonstrate his influence, a Citizens legend has exclusively told Sports Mole.
The Sky Blues announced on Friday that Dias had signed a new long-term contract with Pep Guardiola’s side, keeping him at the Etihad Stadium until the end of the 2028-29 season.
Dias’s new deal – a two-year extension to his previous terms – will prolong his incredibly successful partnership with Man City, whom he has most notably won four Premier League titles and one Champions League crown with, as well as the 2020-21 PL Player of the Season prize.
The 28-year-old touched down in Manchester in 2020, one year after the iconic Kompany departed, but fellow centre-back Richard Dunne believes that Dias has been a natural successor to the now-Bayern Munich head coach.
“He’s been brilliant since he’s gone to City,” Dunne said. “He’s obviously shown some real good leadership in what he’s done, and I think any centre-back that plays alongside him plays better. Having that experience that he’s got, the leadership, it makes it easier for a partner alongside him.
Dias a “really good” Kompany replacement at Man City
“When City have been successful and done well, he’s been the number one centre-back. He’s been a really good replacement for Vincent Kompany, and it’s great that he has signed a new contract and can stay for a longer time.”
Owing to the leadership qualities that Dunne highlighted, Dias has inevitably sported the captain’s armband on several occasions for Man City, including in two Community Shields and the 2021-22 Champions League semi-finals with Real Madrid.
However, Dias has never held the captaincy permanently for the Citizens; during his five years at the club, Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan, Kyle Walker and the recently-departed Kevin De Bruyne have served as Guardiola’s skipper.
De Bruyne’s switch to Napoli on a free transfer this summer saw the Belgian vacate the armband, but rather than appoint Dias captain, Guardiola bestowed Bernardo Silva with the honour, in spite of the fact that his future has been uncertain for a number of years now.
Dias is one of three recognised vice-captains alongside Rodri and Gundogan, though, and Dunne has affirmed that the former does not need to sport the armband every week to be a leader on the field.
Why Dias does not need to be made Man City captain by Guardiola
Asked if he was surprised to see Silva made captain over Dias, Dunne replied: “Not really. I think the way that they deal with it, and certainly more on the continent, I think it’s the player who’s been there the longest to get the captain’s armband.
“I think the way that the manager would look at it is the fact that someone’s got the armband, but he needs captains all over the pitch.
“Regardless of whether you’re wearing that armband or not, you’ve still got to show leadership qualities. Dias doesn’t need the armband just to be the one that organises the defence or organises the team. Alongside him, there’s a couple of others, Rodri will be looking to do that sort of role as well.
“I think it’s important that they do have plenty of voices on the pitch and plenty of organisation because you see how the team performs. They’re almost all going forward, so to have that sort of person at the back, being a leader, will be beneficial. I don’t think the armband itself is massively important to any of the players.”
Dias has managed four goals and five assists in 223 appearances for Man City across all competitions and is expected to keep his place in the first XI for Saturday’s blockbuster Premier League tie against Tottenham Hotspur.
Richard Dunne was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of NetBet Irish online casino.
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