Pep Guardiola’s men lock horns with the Italian side on Saturday 10 June in the UEFA Champions League final.
Victory over the three-time champions would secure a historic treble, with City having already won the Premier League and FA Cup this season.
It would be a monumental achievement, and our first piece of European silverware since 1970, and Dias insists he and his team-mates enjoy the high-stakes environment that brings.
“We love the pressure. Since a long time, the pressure has been on and we love it,” the Portuguese international explained.
“The pressure in the right measure makes you run faster, jump higher and be more focused.
“In the end that’s what these games need. You have to embrace it and never forget to be yourself.
“Mostly we enjoy it. We know what it means to be involved and to our families and our fans but we never forget to enjoy it.”
The defender also described the important leadership role that every member of the City squad has played across the campaign.
Dias provided a rousing team talk ahead of the FA Cup final, while other members of the squad have also addressed the players at key moments across the campaign.
Indeed, the Portuguese international believes Guardiola has assembled a team of leaders who each have experience of stepping up to the occasion when it matters.
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“It’s an important part of my role [leadership] and everyone else’s,” he explained.
“We have a group of five captains but in the end, we are all captains and we can all step up when the time is right.
“It’s a special characteristic our team has. The main word goes out to the club because they were able to get together a group of players who everyone in their own context were all leaders.
“We have brought those leaders together. That’s why when these moments come we know when it is time to step up and we know when it is time to find strength within ourselves.
“We have many voices in the dressing room, not just one, not just five and that is a special attribute our team has.”
CITY V INTER APP COVERAGE
You can follow all of the action on our official app with our Matchday Centre beginning at 16:00 (UK).
Our Matchday Live programme, live from Istanbul, will begin around 18:20 (UK).
Host Natalie Pike will be joined by Matchday Live veterans Nedum Onuoha, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Steph Houghton to provide City-centric insight in the build-up to the game.
The guests will also answer viewer questions throughout the broadcast, with audience participation actively encouraged on Matchday Live.
To get in touch, send a Whatsapp to: +447537186538.
During the game you can listen to live audio commentary while our text commentary continues.
A detailed match report will be posted upon the game’s completion before we provide you with post-match reaction from Guardiola and the players.
Short highlights and a full-match replay (for CITY+ and Recast subscribers) from the match will be available from 23:00 (UK) Saturday with extended highlights available from 23:00 (UK) Sunday 11 June.
