Ruben Dias says the whole Manchester City squad know how important Julian Alvarez's goal against Sevilla can be for the striker.
Alvarez has had to play in the shadow of Erling Haaland so far this season, waiting for his opportunity and often being limited to substitute appearances, or starts in less important games. With Haaland out injured, Alvarez has started the last three games, but found chances at a premium against Borussia Dortmund and Leicester.
It felt like the Sevilla game would follow the same patten in a tight first half, but some second-half reinforcements opened up the space for him and he assisted two and scored another in City's 3-1 comeback win.
ALSO READ: Man City may have exposed two transfer priorities with Sevilla changes
Speaking after the game, Dias said the City dressing room was delighted for Alvarez, praising him for working hard in training and focussing on small details, adding that the whole squad recognise the importance of the goal.
“I think it is the way we interpret training," Dias said. We keep pushing and we keep doing better. We were all very happy for Julian to have the goal and another great pass from Kevin.
"All details matter and all details are important for all of us and every one of us specifically. I’m sure our manager knew, like all of us, how important that goal was for Julian.”
Emphasising his point about paying attention to those details, Dias said the dead-rubber fixture against Sevilla could have been a potential banana-skin for City, but he praised his teammates for maintaining their rhythm going into the final three fixtures before the World Cup.
He explained: “Sometimes these games are the most dangerous ones because if you are not under the right mentality the game can be tricky. We started losing, we did not like that, we did not like conceding a goal but still, I think a good performance from the team. Especially to keep the rhythm going because in two days we have another big final.
"Overall, it is important to get a win though the game, in terms of the group, doesn’t count for much but it is one of those, to keep the rhythm.
“We have the same belief as always. We will push as hard as we can, as always. We are one of the best teams in the world, so we have the capacity for it. Then in the end it is about momentum, the mindset of all of us. How we keep going, how we work every day.
"How important it is, every game, even this one today, for all of us. I think it is these details that you can then enjoy in the end but most importantly of all is to take it game by game. If you think too much ahead, things get complicated.”
READ MORE:
