Manchester City have managed to win the Premier League title this season, and defender Ruben Dias has been instrumental to their domestic success.
Last season the Premier League side were beaten comprehensively by Liverpool to the title because of their defensive vulnerabilities, and Dias has managed to transform the side since joining them.
The Portuguese international has not only improved Manchester City defensively, but he has also been a leader at their defensive organisation.
The city have missed someone like him since the departure of Vincent Kompany.
Apart from his defensive skills, Dias’ communication ability and organisation skills have been vital to Manchester city’s impressive defensive performances this season.
The Manchester City defender has managed to improve his teammates as well.
Former Everton player John Stones was being linked with a move away from Manchester City because of his poor performances. But Dias has helped Stones improve immensely, and he’s likely to be one of the first names on the England team sheet during the European Championships.
The defender has now been awarded the Football Writers Association player of the year award for his contribution to Manchester City’s success this season. There is no doubt that the accolade is well deserved.
It will be interesting to see if their 23-year-old defender can now guide Manchester City to European glory when his side takes on Chelsea in the Champions League final later this month.
Dias said: “It’s a huge privilege. I’m very, very happy [but] I could not have done it without the success of the team.
“Everyone in the team deserves this award. Only by that was I – as a defender – able to be here to receive this prize.
“It means something special because normally, the ones who finish the plays are the ones getting the spotlight, but me receiving this prize is a major example of our team and the way we work – the way we build our game.
“It reflects all the togetherness we have on the pitch, the spirit in the team and how we perform.
“With these players, for me to be receiving this award, it shows how we play like a family.”