Manchester City’s signing of Ruben Dias should help Pep Guardiola address his team’s issues in defence. Adam Bate speaks to former Benfica coach Joao Tralhao to find out if City have the player – and the leader – to help them reorganise at the back…

The expectation heaped on the broad shoulders of Ruben Dias could hardly be higher. It is not just the initial £62m fee that Manchester City are paying Benfica for his services as they seek to find a way to regain the Premier League title. It is the fact that he arrives to find his new boss sifting through the wreckage of the worst defensive display of his managerial career.

Never before had a Pep Guardiola team conceded five goals in a game prior to the 5-2 defeat at home to Leicester on Sunday. And yet, these were familiar defensive problems, albeit as part of an unfamiliar Manchester City line-up. One without Sergio Aguero up front because of injury and David Silva in midfield following his departure in the summer.

It is the loss of Vincent Kompany one year ago that was thrown into sharp focus on Sunday. This was the fixture in which he thundered home the winner in a 1-0 victory that ended Liverpool’s last best chance to pip them to the Premier League title in May 2019. The juxtaposition between the joy felt that evening and the disarray at the weekend is clear.

Many felt the loss of Kompany was overstated. He made only 13 Premier League starts that season, after all. But the majority came during a relentless run-in when his undoubted leadership qualities, the calm that he brought to the defence, those organisational skills, were needed most. In fact, he won each of his last 16 games in all competitions.

source: Skysport.news