Manchester City has the lowest number of blocks (286), second lowest number of shots blocked (58), lowest number of blocks of shots on target (0), lowest number of blocked passes (228), lowest number of interceptions (193, on par with City), lowest number of clearances (371) and 5th lowest number of tackles (387).
Source - Squad Defensive Actions
They also have second lowest opponent attempted crosses into penalty area (145). Their Goalkeeper is above average (7th in terms of PSxG-Goals) so not a massive difference.
To sum up, a team with the lowest number of goals conceded (16, second Chelsea 25) and the lowest number of accumulated xGA (19,5, second Chelsea 23) has the lowest number of defensive actions.
Comparing Dias + Stones vs Lindelof + Maguire (per 90' stats):
- Dias makes more tackles with significantly higher success rate. The difference is not in defensive 3rd, but he makes significantly more tackles in midfield and attacking 3rd
- Maguire tackles dribblers 3x more often than Dias, Lindelof 2,5x. All 3 are dribbled past similar number of times/90' which is interesting.
- Both Lindelof and Maguire have higher number of pressures and success rate. Again, this changes when only attacking 3rd is considered.
- Lindelof makes much higher number of blocks than Maguire. Ruben and Dias are between them.
- Maguire makes 3x more interceptions than Dias and 3x more interceptions than Stones.
- Both Maguire and Lindelof make significantly more interceptions than both City defenders.
Source - Player Defensive Actions
Here's another interesting stat - Dias and Stones had to deal with exactly 2x as many aerial duels than Maguire and Lindelof:
Again, I'm not arguing Dias is not a very good defender, but you have to take under consideration because of how City play their defenders have significantly less to do, especially in defensive 3rd.
Also, considering City defenders have to face half as many crosses as we do, I still maintain Victor would've done very well for City. Maguire is too slow on the ball so don't think so. But those stats do not show me Dias is significantly better defender than Lindelof so I'd be very careful saying Ruben is the best player in the league as some on here do.
PS
Those stats are very strong arguments in favour of possession-based football.