'Training with Erling? It's dangerous' - Ruben Dias opens up on Man City sessions

Manchester City centre-back Ruben Dias returned to the team last weekend vs Liverpool after a spell out of the squad with a hamstring injury

Manchester City centre-back Ruben Dias admits the intensity between himself and Erling Haaland during training is huge when the pair come up against each other. Alongside Haaland, Dias has won the Champions League and a further two Premier League titles as City cemented their dominance in domestic football.

While the pair are teammates at the weekend, training proves to be a different battle with no quarter being conceded by either. Explaining the dynamic, the Portuguese defender told Record: "Training with Erling? It’s dangerous. When we train seriously, there are usually sparks flying. I’d classify him as one of those strikers who has to be 100 to 0… A one percent chance is enough for him to score a goal."

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Dias spent the majority of January and the beginning of February out with a hamstring injury picked up in the draw against Chelsea. However, the 28-year-old returned to action as a substitute in the victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday. He then started the win over Fulham in midweek and played the full 90 minutes as the Blues closed the gap to Arsenal in the Premier League to just four points.

As he fights back from injury, Dias reflected on what makes his mentality different to those who have not made it to the top of professional football. "I’m different because I’ve always been willing to sacrifice more than anyone else," he said. "If you don’t have the mentality, there’s no point in coming here, because this will expose you. "I don’t want any memory other than high performance at the highest level that exists."

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The Blues are battling on four fronts with a Carabao Cup final and the last-16 of the Champions League to look forward to in March. This weekend, City are looking to advance to the fifth round of the FA Cup when they host League Two Salford City.