Manchester City defender Ruben Dias has warned there will be no room for complacency ahead of Sunday's Manchester Derby at Old Trafford, insisting City know exactly what threat Manchester United pose and will be fully prepared for the Premier League blockbuster.

Dias Sets the Tone

City head into the fixture on the back of an encouraging start to the new season, yet the Portuguese centre-back was measured in his assessment. 'It's a difficult game. It's the Premier League, and you know what that means. We're confident going into it, and we can't wait to play. It's high level, and that's the beauty of this league,' Dias said in an interview with Jio Star.

'You cannot expect an easy game. We respect every opponent and prepare the same way for all of them. We know what Manchester United are capable of, and we will be ready for the challenge,' he added, leaving little doubt that City are approaching the derby with full focus.

Fresh Start Under Enzo

City have undergone significant change this summer, most notably the appointment of a new manager Enzo, whose tactical ideas are already being absorbed by the squad. Dias described the transition as energising. 'The start to the new season has been very positive. A lot of things have changed, but in the end, not that much. There's a new energy around the place, and it feels good,' he said.

On the tactical side, Dias noted that Enzo has introduced specific ideas on both sides of the ball while preserving the hallmarks that have defined City in recent years. 'Enzo has his specific ideas about how he sees the game, both offensively and defensively. But overall, it's still very much the game we were used to playing. We still dominate possession, which is our main characteristic,' the defender explained.

Dias also highlighted the importance of collective buy-in. 'The main thing is that everyone is buying into the new ideas. We're working hard on the training pitch to understand the details. The early results this season have been encouraging, and the confidence is building,' he said.

Summer Departures and Squad Renewal

City saw more departures than usual in the summer transfer window, along with several new arrivals. Dias, however, framed the churn as a natural part of football. 'There are always new faces coming in and others moving on, and this summer transfer window saw more departures than usual, but it's a cycle. Every new person who arrives comes here for the same reason we all did in the first place. That is to win and to reach the top,' he said.

He stressed that institutional standards remain constant regardless of personnel. 'What matters is how quickly everyone settles in and understands what is expected. The standards here don't change, no matter who is in the building,' Dias added. This comes amid broader scrutiny of Manchester City's squad-building strategy following a more turbulent 2024-25 campaign, making the 2025-26 rebuild a point of keen interest for followers of the Premier League.

Experience as City's Edge

One of the more senior figures in City's current dressing room, Dias reflected on the privilege of his time at the club. 'Time goes quick, and you have got to enjoy it while it lasts because the time that I have spent at Man City is the best thing in the world,' he said.

He credited the winners' culture cultivated by previous generations of players for shaping his own understanding of what sustained success demands. 'It's mostly just the experience of having gone through so much and won so much with all the ones that were here before with the club, knowing so well what it takes to win and the consistency you need to have every day,' Dias added. That institutional knowledge, he implied, will be a key asset when City run out at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The Manchester Derby is one of English football's most-watched fixtures, and Sunday's edition carries added intrigue given the changes at both clubs. City will be looking to assert early dominance in the title race, while United will be eager to make a statement on home soil. All eyes will be on how Enzo's new-look City side handles the pressure of a first derby under their new manager.