Manchester City Defender Ruben Dias Urges the Cityzens to March Forth

Manchester City’s opening home fixture of the campaign ended in a deflating 2-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur, but Ruben Dias wasted no time in calling for resolve.

The Portuguese defender, speaking after the defeat, underlined that the champions must respond with conviction and perspective rather than dwell on one difficult afternoon.

“It’s frustrating, we want to win even more at home in front of our fans in our first home game,” Dias admitted to TNT Sports, as he reflected on the disappointment inside the Etihad.

“It is what it is, it’s football, we look forward.” His words carried both acknowledgement of the setback and a determination to steer the squad swiftly back on track.

Spurs punished City’s lapses with clinical finishing from Brennan Johnson and Joao Palhinha, leaving Pep Guardiola’s side chasing shadows at times. Dias conceded that Tottenham’s energy and efficiency exposed flaws his team must address.

“Spurs are a team who can be very dangerous, they started the game very well. We didn’t react the best way in sticking to our game. The second goal is unfortunate, it cannot happen. We chased but there was a lot of things to do better.”

The defender, however, refused to let frustration turn into fatalism. He stressed the importance of balance in assessing performances, reminding supporters that a single defeat does not define the campaign. “Not everything was good in our first game, and not everything is bad now, so we have to get back to work.”

Away from the result, Dias also pointed to the wider ambition that remains within the City squad after penning a new contract. “It says about our ambition, it says that we want to stay here and win trophies, and that’s the mentality of the club, nothing has changed.”

• Pep Guardiola Heaps Praise on Man City Star Oscar Bobb.

For the 28-year-old, recommitting his future is part of a bigger message - Man City will continue to push, continue to compete, and continue to chase silverware no matter the setbacks.

Saturday's loss to Tottenham may sting, but in Dias’s rallying cry, there is a reminder of the mindset that has carried City to glory in recent years and that is to regroup quickly, march forth, and focus on the battles ahead.