Ruben Dias has called for an immediate response from Manchester City after their unbeaten Premier League start ended with a 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa.
Nicolas Jackson scored twice for the hosts, either side of Erling Haaland’s equaliser, as City suffered their first league defeat under Enzo Maresca following seven successive victories.
“Whatever happens we need to react to it,” Dias told Manchester City’s official website.
Here are four takeaways from the City captain’s reaction.
Dias demands a response
City were unable to find a second equaliser after Jackson restored Villa’s lead, but Dias was encouraged by the way his team-mates kept pushing. “The team had a very good reaction,” he said. “Not our day but we keep moving forward.”
Captain backs City’s mentality
Dias also praised the attitude of the players after they fell behind for a second time, saying they “kept fighting to the end”. The 29-year-old’s focus was firmly on City’s response rather than analysing the reasons for the defeat, leaving that assessment to Maresca.
One defeat changes little
City’s seven-match winning start has given them a strong platform and Dias was keen to keep Saturday’s result in perspective. “We take it step by step,” he told City Studios. “There’s a long way to go. We know we can always improve.”
Brighton offers an immediate opportunity
City face Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday before meeting the same opponents in the Premier League next weekend. Dias says City will adapt to the challenge but wants the focus to remain on “our spirit, our will to win”.
After the first league setback of Maresca’s reign, City now have an early opportunity to show the response their captain has demanded.
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