Ruben Dias endured a tough afternoon at Stamford Bridge (Picture: Getty)
Michael Owen has slammed the performance of Ruben Dias in Manchester City’s 4-4 draw with Chelsea, suggesting that the centre-back cost his side two goals in the game.
City were denied a late win after Rodri’s deflected effort when Cole Palmer netted an injury-time penalty against his former club to rescue a point for Chelsea.
The penalty arose after Dias was adjudged to have brought down substitute Armando Broja inside the area with a mistimed sliding tackle.
It was an error-strewn display from City defensively throughout the entire game, with the 4-4 scoreline marking the first time that one of Pep Guardiola’s team had score four or more goals and concede four or more in the same game.
And former Premier League striker Owen believed that the Portuguese international was particularly to blame and costed his side on more than one occasion.
‘Sliding on his backside today cost them two goals – the penalty at the end and that [Jackson’s goal],’ Owen told Premier League Productions.
‘I felt the ball was nowhere near him really and he’s sliding for some reason. If he stays on his feet he actually gets to the ball before Jackson does.
The centre-back gave away an injury-time penalty for his tackle on Broja (Picture: Getty)
‘Okay, he [Dias] could argue if it’s going in the other corner, he blocks it [by sliding] but he can block it by standing up.
‘The goalkeeper should parry it to the side, but he’s in front of him, he’s way in front of Jackson, if he stands on his feet… it’s twice he went down and twice he cost them a goal.’
Despite dropping two points late on, City moved one point clear of Liverpool after the draw, with Guardiola pleased with how his side have bounced back after their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal last month.
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‘[It’s] important that we go into the international break top of the league, I couldn’t expect it after the Arsenal game when we lost,’ the City boss said to Sky Sport after the game.
‘We’ve qualified for the Champions League [knockout stage] and we’re top of the league, where we come from, wow, that is really, really good.
‘Now rest, hopefully they come back fit, the next games are really, really tough.’
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He had a tough game at Stamford Bridge.