As Manchester City nears the season’s business end, Ruben Dias has observed a change in mindset inside the team.

After a strong start to the season, City’s lack of consistency in the fall saw them fall six points behind leaders Arsenal heading into the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia. Liverpool and Arsenal drew to guarantee that City weren’t as far behind as they could have been, since Arsenal lost two straight games over the Christmas break, allowing Liverpool to take the lead.

Liverpool has played one more game than City and is now five points ahead, giving the Blues a chance to reclaim the title. City also have Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, John Stones and Jeremy Doku to return and a favourable run throughout January to work on the training ground.

According to Dias, one of City’s five captains, the squad have had to reset after last year’s treble success and are ‘back on track’ ahead of the start of a pivotal run in February when the schedule starts to pick up again.

Speaking on City’s official podcast, Dias said: “I think generally we are starting to feel ourselves again. After what we did last season, we had to come down to earth and realise the small things that allowed us to do what we did before.

”We are more and more back on track. The moment you relax, a drop-off comes out of nowhere. There are still a lot of flights to have and there is a lot of work to be done.”

Even if the first half of the season hasn’t been perfect, Dias says City have done well to put themselves in touch in the Premier League and Champions League going into February, with progression in the FA Cup a third target in January. With pressure on to chase down Liverpool and Arsenal, as well as progressing in Europe, Dias feels that feeling will bring out the best in the reigning World Champions.

“February is when the real things start. Obviously, you have to have put yourself in position to be there to feel that pressure,” he said. ”But in the end that’s when the real decisions start to be made. If you get to February in a good position in the league and still in every competition, then the big games come up fast.

“I like that feeling of playing under that pressure. If you are going to win something then you are going to be in uncomfortable places and under pressure on occasions. Even if you have won a lot before, it doesn’t matter at all because those feelings won’t change.

“If those feelings have changed then you are not as ready to win as you should be. As much as you can, you should want the pressure because it means you are in the right place.”

The transfer window has been a hectic one and City have been busy, with high-profile signings and sales aplenty.

City snapped up Croatian pair Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol from Chelsea and RB Leipzig respectively with the latest addition being Jeremy Doku. Wolves’ Matheus Nunes then joined the Blues on deadline day. In terms of outgoings, Treble winner Ilkay Gundogan departed for Barcelona, Aymeric Laporte and Riyad Mahrez moved to Saudi Arabia, and Cole Palmer completed a shock move to Chelsea.

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