Former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell has lauded Manchester City defender Ruben Dias, claiming the recent comments made by teammate Manuel Akanji prove just how much respect he has from the dressing room.
Dias was an unused substitute as Pep Guardiola's side came from a goal down to beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
The centre-back, who had featured in every game of the season so far prior to the midweek victory, scored in the 4-0 thrashing of Sevilla on matchday one of the Champions League.
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Dias has been a revelation at the Etihad Stadium since arriving from Benfica in 2020 - making 98 appearances for City, while also being voted the Premier League's Player of the Year for 2020-21.
In a recent interview with The Athletic, new signing Akanji said that Dias 'controls' the City defence and makes the players around him better. Akanji, who started alongside Joao Cancelo, John Stones and Nathan Ake in the win over Dortmund on Wednesday, also suggested that "you do not see on TV" the extent to which Dias organises the defence.
The 25-year-old has received widespread praise for his performances for the reigning Premier League champions, and Campbell has claimed he looks like he has been at City for 10 years rather than just two.
When asked by Football Insider for his thoughts on Dias and his influence on Guardiola’s side, Campbell said: “He’s a leader. He is somebody who controls people and makes the players around him better. Dias seems to be that type. It sounds like he is an organiser. He is the main man for City at the back.
"Look, it is important for Akanji to come out and tell you that. It shows you just how much respect Dias has from his teammates. We have seen it for a couple of seasons now with Dias. He hit the ground running. It is like he has been at City for 10 years.
"He is a very good player who is still relatively young. Pep seems to know what he is doing."
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