City have only won one game out of their past nine in all competitions and the defender suggests that responding to those who are writing them off could be the greatest achievement for players who have dominated English football under Pep Guardiola's management in recent years.

Dias said: "Isn't that the beauty of all of it? The fact that people are wondering about it [being the end of this team]?

"Football is just that. It doesn't really matter how much you have accomplished in the past, how much you are going to accomplish, you are always going to be demanded more of. You are always going to demand more of yourself and always going to want more as well.

"The fact that people doubt is the one thing that brings you strength, the one thing that inspires you to be greater and greater.

"This is our legacy. More than the Treble or the four Premier Leagues in a row. All of it is spectacular but I do believe that the one thing that defines a legacy is how you reacted in the most difficult moment of your career.

"I am a true believer in those moments being the ones that define you. We embrace the difficult moments because those are the ones I personally will remember."

Dias admits that recent defeats have consumed the thoughts of the City squad but is confident that the team will come out of the experience stronger.

He told TNT Sports: "I think unconsciously you do think about it, of course.

"It is important to be able to disconnect at some point; that keeps you healthy as well, in your mind and work-wise.

"Obviously, it consumes you because we are all winners and no one likes to be in this position, but this is where you get the wins from."