Football Daily - Rúben Dias - The Football Interview

Episode Date: September 12, 2026

In this week’s edition of The Football Interview, Kelly Somers speaks to Manchester City defender Rúben Dias. They discuss the transition into life under Enzo Maresca, after a decade of success with Pep Guardiola at the helm. They also get into how things have changed with Bernardo Silva and John Stones leaving over the summer. He reflects on the impact on his parents early on in his success to becoming one of the greatest central defenders in the world. Timecodes: 0’20 - What’s it like under Enzo Maresca? 1’25 - The changes in key players and his excitement for the future 4’05 - the best moment under Pep Guardiola 6’10 - Influence of his parents early on & Benfica academy 9’57 - Is he a deep thinker? 10’50 - How he enjoys his own time 11’45 - What can he achieve into his thirties?

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He signed a new contract at the club last summer, meaning he is a focal point of a new look side under Enzo Moreska. Welcome to the Football Interested. you, Ruben Dia. Shall we start with? What's life like under Enzomeresca? It's good. It is exciting. Many different details that in a way make the whole situation different, but at the same time still very much of things that we used to believe in in order to put our game into place and to attack a team and to be ourselves. But obviously these details make it very different and obviously we're buying into them a lot. They make sense and we just,

perfecting them as much as we can every day that goes by. Tell me about these details. What does he do differently? I can't tell it too much. No, you don't have to give me all of your tactics, but maybe he approaches training sessions differently. Maybe he talks to you differently. Yeah, I mean, there's obviously many things,

from a training session to some details about the way we press, details about the way we defend, and that make all of these his and makes it Enzo's idea. I feel like everything is making a lot of sense. Everyone's buying into the idea, everyone's excited about it. I mean, there's a lot of joy in training, which is... Important thing, isn't it? As we walked across here, I joked with you that you've lost all of your friends.

Because it hasn't just been Pep Guardiola that's left, has it? We spoke to Bernardo Silver last season. He said, you were his best mate here. He's gone so many players have gone. What's that been like for you? It's sad, in a way, because obviously we was more than colleagues. We were, most of us, we were very, very good friends and close friends. And we won so much together.

so there's many memories involved. But at the end of the day, it's the life, it's football. So we need to adapt. We need to move forward. We need to create new connections. When I come here, I didn't know any of them. And now it's a moment where so many new players have joined. And it's time to build these connections and be strong again.

And you're one of the leaders as well in this squad. How has it changed your role? The fact that you're one of the last one standing, I suppose, one of the players that won so much here. I've been in the group of captains since after my first season. You've lost most of them now. You're one of the only ones left, aren't you? Yeah, but in terms of the role I have, it goes down to trying to be the best version of yourself. And in terms of that, nothing has changed.

Now, obviously, so many people have left and so many winners have left. And now new people have joined with a lot of ambition and people that want to are dying, desperate to win. And that's also what makes the club keep on going. Has it almost rejuvenated you, re-excited you about the possibility of being. part of this rebuild? Yeah, I mean, everything ends up exciting you. And last season, when I signed my new contract, I signed it because I was already excited about staying here

and looking forward to however many years I will stay. And you got to enjoy every single second of it and every training session. The joy of being here, the joy of being available and being in this context where you can win everything. And you've got a club to match your ambition. It's an opportunity a few people have in their lives. and I'm here for it.

Let's go inside and talk a little bit more about that joy and some of the moments that have come. Let's go. So has this summer of change give you an opportunity to reflect on everything that you and the squad achieved under Pep Guardiola? Yeah, I mean for sure, but then you just move forward. I knew you were going to say that. I can tell from your mentality you're always going to look forward. I feel like maybe I'll do more of that when I finish my career a little bit.

But then as well, there's going to be other things that will keep my mind working. But now it's obviously being appreciative of everything that happened. Smile while looking at it because it was beautiful. But then look forward and be excited for what's coming. There were so many high points under Peppers. I came here and I was thinking about what to ask you. I was like, how do you ask someone that's won everything what the highlight has been? Is there a moment that really stands out to you that's been particularly special here?

I mean, the highest mountain was definitely the travel season. After the Champions League, after winning the Premier League, then you win the FA Cup, it builds up. You would think if we win a Premier League, just it's already unbelievable. If we just win a Champions League, it's unbelievable, but then to win the three of them. And then to be on that final game,

knowing that all of that is at stake, and when you do it, it was probably the most emotional I felt in my life, yeah. Really? Just because of the magnitude of it and the fact that... Not even emotional, as in about crying, and just the amount of feelings that were going through my mind and the realization of everything that happened.

And by mind, this was my third Premier League in a row. And my first season when I came, all the talk and all the things that go through a player's mind in this first season. And I had the joy to win a Premier League in my first. But then as well, after to win four Premier Leagues in a row, which I felt like it was... a great achievement. I mean, there's many moments, but definitely, I would say, the treble

that was the pinnacle. Do you think we've perhaps seen since just what an incredible achievement it really is? Because there was talk last season of could Arsenal do it? But no one's actually really come that close. Do you think now we all appreciate just how big achievement it was? Yeah, I mean, history told you so. Only one team had done it before. So that just tells you how difficult it actually is to pull off, to be able to be successful in all of them at the same time in this country, in this league. But again, it's in the past, it's beautiful. And in its time, I believe I'll look back at it and be very happy with it. But now I'm just very much in the moment and just enjoying every second of what's coming. I can tell you just want to look forward,

but I am interested in your backstory as well, because we talk a lot about one club players. They're rare, but two club players are pretty rare as well. And that's pretty much what you are, isn't it? Benfica and Manchester City. Yeah, I mean, I grew up in Benfica and I had three amazing years in the first team. And it was amazing to have the opportunity. And then you reach a certain level at Benfica where you want to reach the sky and I came here for it. And this club has allowed all those ambitions and dreams to be possible to become a reality. So I would obviously forever be grateful to both of them and yeah I mean they shaped without a doubt who I am you mentioned there you were at Benfica through all of the age groups how did you start in

football though what kind of were your earliest memories of it my parents my my dad um he never really wanted me or my brother to play football because he was a football kind of person he even it was in it and he had a lot he knew a lot of a lot of people that were in the world and he always saw it very rotten so he just as much as he I mean it didn't push us away but he didn't push pull us into it so we were doing all sorts from karate we were swimming a lot and just trying different stuff and you any good at anything else yeah I mean I feel like I'm good at different things but I was obviously better at football but then even one time in school a friend of mine asked me to joined this club, Sherelda Madura, which was my first club, from where I was born.

And they were recruiting players at that time. And I was just playing in school. And because I was good in school, the guy told me, hey, do you want to come do a trial? And then I asked my dad. And then he was like, are you guys sure? Like, if you're going in, like, go full in. I'll support you, whatever. But be sure of the decision you're making.

And now it's just me and my brother, we were just completely diving into it. So, so, yeah, eight years old. We started and then, yeah, I was two years at Sirada Maduro and then I went to Benfica. What did your dad think of it all now? You must be quite pleased that you almost went against him to come into this world? Not really against him.

I was always happy that we was adamant of pursuing what we wanted to pursue. And when football became something we both really wanted, he just supported it full on. And I have a lot to thank him and my mum because they were the most supportive parents without being obsessed. They were not obviously.

by the idea of me or my brother becoming a footballer and as such than having a certain life. They were just obsessed and supportive of us enjoying life and doing things that we liked and being happy. That's why my dad never really pushed us into football because he was just like, guys just be happy, be free spirits and just enjoy life. That's the important thing, isn't it? But then obviously when we got a bit more serious about it, then he also made us learn what it means to sacrifice in order to pursue a dream and obviously to be connected and to have responsibility towards something. And obviously that was gradual,

but it was a process that happened and obviously happened in a very successful way because I believe both me and my brother more than good that anything that we might do, we're both very good-hearted people and with good values that were most definitely instructed by my mom and dad. So I feel like at the end of the day,

that's the biggest victory. And even now I got two days off, I managed to go to my dad's small town where he's from. And I could see how happy it was for both of us being there in this moment of our lives where we could just maybe not really be interested about it. But we was there. Other 50 members of the family were there

and it was just beautiful, yeah. Are you quite a deep thinker? Yeah, I would say I am, yeah. I can tell from all of your answers, like everything's so in depth. It feels like, do you feel, this deeply and think this deeply about football and the rest of life? Do you think about everything a lot?

Yeah, I mean, I feel like I'm a good intense person towards life, towards my personal life, towards work. I mean, I'm intense on the beach. I feel like it's very easy to see. But it's because I do the things I believe in, and I do them with all my heart. I put everything on it. And yeah, I feel like that's the way life is worth living, yeah.

So if you're going to do something, you're going all in? Yeah. But I also know when to relax and when to not give too much importance to something that doesn't deserve it. How do you relax? How do you unwind? Because you've said you're intense on the pitch, but you also know the importance of enjoying life. How do you get away from it all?

I mean, I'm quite easy. I love to be home. I love to watch movies. I love my shows. I love to be surrounded by my family. I spend a lot of time alone in Manchester. And I love to just get out of training and get home and just peace and quiet.

I mean, I'm very happy with the most simple things. As long as I'm at peace and peace with myself, I'm cool, knowing that I'm doing the best possible I can in every angle of my life. I'm cool. I love when my family's around, though. I love when... Are your family over here, or do you not get to see? No, they're not here now.

That must be tough. It's cool, because I also enjoy my own company, and I feel like that's a very important step for one to have. I'll go to dinner by myself, I'll go to the movies by myself, and I enjoy it. Cool. It's nice not to have to answer to anyone sometimes. I mean, even when you're with family,

I feel like one of the biggest joys of being with family is that you know you can be in the same room without saying anything and you will enjoy it so much just because you're in that level of comfort. So, yeah. It feels like, I mean, you're going to hit 30 next year, aren't you? Yeah. There's nothing wrong with that, by the way.

I'm in my 30s. It's great. But it feels like you're very at peace. You've achieved so much, but you've still got so much left that you want to do. Yeah, I feel like at peace, yes. That translates my... It translates a lot, my moment.

But I'm excited about all of this and all the things with the club, the new manager, new players, a new challenge, guys that I was so close with leaving. It's the law of life, the circle of life, you can call it. And it's just how things are. And I'm appreciative of all of it. I'm appreciative of the memories I have with all the ones that left. And I'm excited about the memories I'm going to make with the ones that have just arrived. and I'm still very ambitious.

I took the decision of being at this level because I feel like I've won so much but maybe the thing that would be my biggest reward would be to be here so many years playing at this level and having the consistency of being ambitious for so long. So, yeah, I'm excited. I think excited is a word. I checked in your birthdays in May,

that could be some party, couldn't it? When all the trophies happen, that's where city normally are and you'll be 30 as well. Perfect way to celebrate. I mean, I'm not too funny about my birthday. I don't like being the centre of attention so I'm very casual.

Well, I've told everyone about it now. Sorry about that. Yeah, I mean, anyway, it doesn't really matter because I'm not too funny about it. I'll be happy with dinner with my family. We went these last birthday. My parents and my brother, they came here for my birthday.

I took them to the restaurant. The restaurant was empty. We still had a great time, though. Well, okay, well, maybe if you don't want a big party, you'd love a trophy to celebrate your 30. Yeah, for sure, for sure. Well, good luck with it, and enjoy whatever celebrations you have. Thank you.

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