Pep Guardiola has provided an injury update on Ruben Dias ahead of Manchester City's meeting with Liverpool this weekend, refusing to rule out the possibility of the Portugal international making his return to the team tomorrow night against Atletico Madrid.
Dias has not featured for the Sky Blues since February 26, though is now closing in on a first-team return for the season run-in. The 24-year-old completed one training session with the City squad today and stands a chance of competing against the Reds at Wembley.
After holding Liverpool to a 2-2 draw on Sunday afternoon with Aymeric Laporte and John Stones as a centre-back partnership, the Citizens are likely to start the same duo on Wednesday evening in the Champions League but could introduce Dias during proceedings.
Asked to provide an update on the former Benfica defender at his pre-match press conference this afternoon, Guardiola told reporters: "He travels with us. From the beginning tomorrow, no. During the game, I don't know. I had one training session today after six weeks off. It is a little bit premature but the fact he has come back is incredible in this tight schedule we have until the end of the season. Everyone is going to be important, and Ruben is."
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The City boss was also asked for his thoughts on the heart-in-mouth moment caused by Ederson in Sunday's draw with Jurgen Klopp's side, which saw the Brazilian shot-stopper fail to make a connection with the ball but recover quickly to prevent the ball crossing his goal-line.
"He's crazy. This guy is crazy, honestly," said Guardiola of the incident which very nearly benefited Diogo Jota. "He is so stable and as a keeper he is fantastic. in that moment, i thought it could not be as close until I saw the image on TV and the newspaper - one inch to the goal. It's so good because he is so stable, he doesn't feel the pressure. The most important thing in football, and that is a big example, is that you have to forget the previous action as quickly as possible - good or bad. And he forgot it immediately."
