Dias named FWA Player of the Year

Dias managed to beat his City team-mate Kevin de Bruyne and Tottenham Hotspurs' Harry Kane to the title in his first season in English football.

Dias joined the Citizens from Benfica at the beginning of this current season and has been influential in helping them win the League Cup, the Premier League and reach the final of the Champions League.

Although elated with the recognition, Dias commented that he couldn't take all the credit.

"It is a huge privilege. Obviously I could not have done it without the success of the team," Dias said via AFP.

"I think me receiving this prize is the major example of how our team works, the way we build our game.

"It reflects all the togetherness we have on the pitch, how we perform and the spirit that is in the team and with these players."

Dias made history to become the first defender to win the gong since Liverpool's Steve Nicol won the award 32 years ago. He has also become the third player to win the accolade in their first season in England.

"Pep Guardiola improves players, shapes them -- but at no point has a new signing arrived into one of Pep's already trophy-laden teams and exerted such influence," FWA chairwoman Carrie Brown said.

"Ruben Dias is our Football Writers' Association's Footballer of the Year for his leadership on and off the pitch as much as for the infectious joy he derives from executing the art of defending to perfection."

Manchester City will be looking for a first Champions League title, despite winning the European Cup Winners Cup in 1969-70, when they face Chelsea in the final in Porto on 29 May.