Manchester City defender Rúben Dias has fired back at Liverpool and England star Trent Alexander-Arnold after he claimed that winning trophies “means more” to Liverpool as a club and a fan base.
The Portuguese centre-back joined his fellow teammate Erling Haaland in rubbishing Alexander-Arnold’s opinion in a recent interview with FourFourTwo, after he suggested that looking at how “both clubs have built their teams and the manner in which we’ve done it probably means more to our fans.”
Liverpool’s currently injured left-back went on to tell the sporting outlet: “It’s difficult. You’re up against a machine that’s built to win – that’s the simplest way to describe City and their organisation.
“Looking back on this era, although they’ve won more titles than us and have probably been more successful, our trophies will mean more to us and our fanbase because of the situations at both clubs, financially.” Unsurprisingly, Dias was having absolutely none of it.
“Focus on ourselves. That’s the way to be a big club. Not commenting on other people’s success”#ManCity’s Ruben Dias on Alexander-Arnold’s comments that Liverpool’s success means more to fans.
Rúben Dias responds to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s comments about Man City’s success over the last decade.
As you can see, the 26-year-old had very little time for Trent’s remarks, simply replying by saying, “it’s pretty certain between us and our fans about how much it meant for all of us [to win the treble].
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Dias went on to throw in a bit of a jab of his own, adding: “At the end of the day, you can only have certain emotions if you actually win stuff, so — you can only know how it feels [to win a treble] when you actually do it”.
Cold as ice. His response pretty much mirrored Haaland‘s comeback earlier in the week too, who also said that the Scouser doesn’t know the feeling of this particular achievement, insisting “They can talk as much as they want… I do not know why he does that, but I do not mind.”
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Speaking to Sky Sports, the Norwegian number nine who is once again looking back to business as usual said he cannot wait for Man City to take on their title challengers this Sunday, dubbing it a “special game” which will need both sides to be at their best.
We have no shame in admitting we enjoy a bit of trash-talk ahead of any derby or big game — it feels a little bit throwback at times when compared to the usual kind of answers we see from players in the media these days — and everyone knows how big a fixture this is.
With Jürgen Klopp’s side still top of the table in what will be his last year on Merseyside following the recent announcement of his departure at the end of this season, and City eyeing up a record-breaking fourth consecutive Premier League trophy, there’s a lot at stake beyond just the usual rivalry.
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This one could genuinely be the title decider and with both sides looking in good form, we’re expecting a proper blockbuster.
As for Alexander Arnold’s comment about the serial winners, he’ll be able to find out just how much it means to the squad and the supporters when their much-anticipated Treble documentary drops on Netflix next month.
Featured Images — FourFourTwo (via YouTube)/BBC Radio Manchester (via X)
Sport
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it
Emily Sergeant
Erling Haaland has answered the all-important question.
The question heard around the world, the question on everyone’s lips, a question that has absolutely nothing to do with football whatsoever… that’s right, he’s answered Letterboxd’s famous question of ‘what are your four favourite films?’.
If you’re unaware of what Letterboxd is, it describes itself as being an ‘online diary platform and app for film lovers’ and it gives users the chance to display their four favourite films at the top of their profile for all to see (and judge).
An extension of this has then been Letterboxd asking celebrities in press junket interviews and on red carpets what their ‘four faves’ are – and it’s gone on to become something of a phenomenon in the film world.
Everyone from massive A-list movie stars, to indie darlings and up-and-coming names have answered this question before, and now (it appears) to be Erling Haaland’s turn.
He’s not the first footballer to be tasked with question though, as the entire Spurs team was ambushed with it by former player – and famously massive cinephile – Alfie Whiteman last year, but it’s fair to say that after the summer he’s had with Norway at the World Cup, achieving international fame in the process, that Haaland is one of the most high-profile to answer it in a long while.
So, what’s on Erling’s list then?
Well, to self-confessed ‘film bros’ out there, you’re not going to find any deep cuts in this selection unfortunately, and you’re probably not going to get any recommendations for movies you haven’t seen before either, but come on, he is only a footballer after all.
Erling Haaland has named his four favourite films… and fans have a lot to say on it / Credit: Letterboxd
First up for the Manchester City striker is a pretty common pick by straight white men, it’s The Wolf of Wall Street, and he doesn’t give much of a reason for it, other than just suggesting: “I think you understand why”.
He then follows that up with Ridley Scott’s classic Gladiator, calling it ‘amazing’, before naming 2004’s epic Troy, and then rounding it out with a Christmas favourite for many, Home Alone, adding that he ‘watched it a lot as a kid, and then again now’.
As for fan reaction to Haaland’s four favourites, let’s just say it’s been mixed.
Among the 1,000+ comments on the Instagram video, you’ll find just as many people called him ‘king’ and saying he has ‘goated’ taste, as you will comments like this: “He has the most male gazed top four in history of Letterboxd.”
Manchester City reveal world-first third kit… designed by AI
Daisy Jackson
Manchester City have just revealed the club’s third kit for the season, and it’s a world-first AI-designed kit.
The new Man City and Puma kit was revealed in full this morning after days of teasing on billboards across Manchester.
For the first time in professional football history, the kit is designed by a fan, using AI.
180,000 fans submitted designs through the Puma AI Creator, with the winning design now projected on some of the city’s biggest digital billboards – on Market Street, and at Printworks.
Created by lifelong Cityzen and stills photographer Elliott, the final design is inspired by Manchester City’s iconic 13/14 season away shirt.
Elliott’s creative interpretation was crowned in January 2025 after a global fan vote.
The digital billboards show each different stage of the AI design process, from prompt to finished design, with the tagline ‘designed by one of us, chosen by all of us’.
The AI Man City kit reveal
Eagle-eyed Man City fans may have noticed a cryptic ‘loading’ screen in town on Tuesday, with just a hint of the shirt visible.
Then on Wednesday, the screens displayed: “AI prompt accepted. Fan vote confirmed. Final Manchester City 26/27 Third Kit design processing.”
Then the full reveal has taken place today, Thursday 27 August, finally unveiling the full shirt with the words: “Designed by one of us. Chosen by all of us”.
Reacting to live images of the billboards, Elliott said: “Seeing my complete design revealed on billboards in the city centre this morning was unbelievable.
“City has been part of our family’s life for as long as I can remember, so this is as good as it gets for me.
“Creativity is naturally part of my everyday life as a photographer, but it was good to turn my hand to something else and see what could be created with the use of AI.
“The 13/14 away shirt was always my favourite, so it felt like the natural starting point for my prompt. From there, it was amazing to see the technology take that spark of an idea and turn it into something I could actually shape and refine.
“To know that a shirt I designed on my lunch break will now be worn by the players is something I still can’t quite get my head around!”
The 26/27 Manchester City Third Kit will be available at mancity.com/shop and Manchester City Official Stores, with 10% off for Members and Seasoncard holders (automatically applied when logged in with a Member account online).
Danny Jones -
8th March 2024 
