Manchester City defender Rúben Dias snapped at a reporter after falling to a fourth straight Premier League defeat at Liverpool on Sunday, insisting the defending champions “know how to deal” with their current slump.
Goals from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah gave leaders Liverpool a 2-0 win at Anfield which left City 11 points behind Arne Slot’s side in fifth place.
City, who lost four league games in a row for the first time since 2008, are winless in their last seven matches in all competitions, a run that includes six defeats and a 3-3 draw at home against Feyenoord in the Champions League.
In an interview for Viaplay TV after the game, former Premier League forward Jan Aage Fjortoft asked Dias how the City players planned on taking “responsibility” for their poor form, leading to a tense response from the Portugal international.
“You know that you’re talking to one of the players of one of the teams in the world that has won the most in recent years?,” said Dias, who was at fault in the lead up to Liverpool’s second.
“Have a think about that and be sure that we know how to deal with it.”
City have won six of the last seven Premier League titles but sit fifth in the table, outside the Champions League places. During their winless streak, City have conceded 19 goals.
“I will not talk about the little details but focus on the bigger picture,” Dias added afterwards.
“That is, even though it was a difficult moment I did see a lot of character and I did see the fans behind us and that is the only way we are going to go through it.
“This is just part of our legacy. We have won so much and still we are where we are and this happens.
“We have been able to be versatile, adapt and keep on moving forward and thinking one game at a time. That is what we need to get back to.”
