Ruben Dias sends Crystal Palace "very dangerous" warning ahead of FA Cup final
Manchester City have struggled for much of this season, but defender Ruben Dias warned Crystal Palace they are "dangerous" once again ahead of their FA Cup final showdown
Ruben Dias says Manchester City are 'very dangerous' once again with the return of key players for tomorrow's FA Cup final. Star striker Erling Haaland, along with defender Manuel Akanji, have returned from injury lay-offs in time to face Crystal Palace at Wembley.
Although City have endured a poor season by their high standards, failing to challenge for the Premier League, Dias said they are ready to remind the football world of their enduring brilliance.
'It's a lovely sight having everyone available,' said Dias. 'And when everyone is available, the conversation changes a lot and we get very dangerous.
'It's a massive one, even more so after the season we've had, to be in this final stage and have the opportunity to lift the trophy. We know how good it feels to win the FA Cup and we know what it means to everyone, so it's a big one for us.
'It's our third FA Cup final in a row, so that's already quite a big achievement. It's a competition that means a lot to us.
'We've been defined by the Premier League wins, but I feel we've been defined by all of it, for the way we played - and everything counts in the end. The FA Cup is a major one for us, so we really want to win it.'
Having ruled English football for the past decade, including a record four successive title triumphs, City's drop-off this season was as astonishing as it was unexpected.
They won just once during a miserable 13-game run between October 30 and Boxing Day, and failed to make the last 16 of the Champions League, a first for decorated boss Pep Guardiola.
But City have recovered since losing their way mid-season, with Dias suggesting the mental and physical toll it took to win four titles in a row may have caught up with the players this season.
'It was definitely the consequence of many things,' said Dias. 'One of them was the fact we won four Premier Leagues in a row and nobody has ever done that.
'Maybe this is the cost - the effort and mental discipline that is essential for the game we play. They were obviously troubled times for many reasons, but you shouldn't doubt each other because of a bad wave.
'That shows a weak house and we're a strong house. If anyone doubts, maybe they should learn a lesson for the future.
'When you're doing great or when you're not doing so great, the only time to look back is when the season is done and the season isn't done yet. There's still a lot to fight for and a lot to accomplish, so it's one game at a time and push as much as we can.
'This team is made up of a lot of individual qualities, but it's even more made of this mentality and feeling among each other that we're there and we're going to do it and be strong together.'
Dias admitted lifting the FA Cup would be the perfect send-off for club legend Kevin De Bruyne, before his emotional farewell in his final game at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
'Kevin deserves everything - from us players, from the fans, from the club,' said Dias. 'As much we can as a team, we want him to feel the best he can possibly feel.'
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