Ruben Dias reveals how Man City will avoid 'big mistake' in run-in and admits his surprise at how well John Stones performed in his hybrid defensive role last season

Ruben Dias has joked that he speedily wakes himself from dreams of end of season glory and claims that looking too far ahead can be a 'big mistake'. 

The Manchester City defender is preparing to take on Real Madrid in the first-leg of the Champions League quarter-final, having seen his side cut their deficit at the top of the Premier League to one point last weekend. 

Pep Guardiola's side are bidding to become the first team in the history of the English top-flight to win four consecutive titles, while they are also in with a chance completing their second-straight continental treble. 

City's staggering consistency in recent years has made many outsiders believe their continued success will be a formality but Dias has dismissed that notion and insisted the key is to focus on the next game ahead of them. 

'Whenever I close my eyes and start to think about [the end of the season] I slap myself and wake up and immediately say "stop thinking about that and just think about the next game."' He said on the Men in Blazers Youtube Channel. 

'I genuinely believe that it's a big mistake to think too far ahead and it will just distract you from what you're doing at the moment. 

'Right now it's all about the details in every game we play because now there are no easy games. Everyone is fighting for something. 

'It will be a final every three days so our mind is only on the next one.'

Much of City's late-season surge last term was down to the centre back partnership of Dias and John Stones, especially the evolution of the England defender's hybrid role. 

Dias was effusive in his praise for Stones, who has been in and out of the team this season with niggling injuries, and he admitted that his adaptation to the position took him by surprise. 

'The way he has been able to perform in that position surprised us all. He gave us a different solution, a different option. 

'It allowed us to have more numbers in the up front with him jumping into midfield. It was and it is very important for us to do that movement. 

'He's a special player. I think everyone know how much I love to have him by my side.'