Diogo Dalot has expressed his determination to avoid being part of what has been described as Manchester United’s “worst-ever team” following recent criticisms of the club’s current form. Ruben Amorim, the team’s manager, voiced his discontent with the squad after their 3-1 defeat to Brighton at Old Trafford last month, which prompted Dalot to take a stand. In the wake of United’s 2-0 win against FCSB in the Europa League, Dalot made it clear that he is not content with the negative perception surrounding the team.
“I don’t want to hear it,” Dalot stated after the victory. “The message for me is that the next training session I have to show that I don’t want to belong to the worst Manchester United team in history.” He emphasized that the situation, while seemingly bleak, is being viewed positively by the players, as they are determined to change the course of events. “You can analyse it as something negative, but I analyse it as something positive because I want to change the situation,” Dalot explained. “My teammates also want to change this, and we showed that against FCSB. So hopefully, we can do it again on Sunday against Crystal Palace.”
Dalot was also questioned about Amorim’s fiery demeanor. The Portuguese manager had reportedly broken a television in the dressing room after the defeat to Brighton. Dalot responded by acknowledging Amorim’s passionate nature, both as a player and as a coach. “Obviously he is a passionate guy,” Dalot said. “He was as a player, and now he’s as a manager. And I think it’s what this club needs.” He pointed out that the fans’ desire for success mirrors Amorim’s aspirations for the club. “Speak to all the fans, and they always show this desire of wanting the best for the club. That’s what he wants. So if we want to win, if we want to go to where this club belongs, we need to be there.”
As United face Crystal Palace on Sunday, a victory would secure back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time this season under Amorim’s leadership. However, Dalot was cautious when discussing the potential for a breakthrough. “Football is always unpredictable, but what you can see is that we are trying to be more consistent about it, trying to win more games,” Dalot said. “That’s the part that we want to keep. It doesn’t mean that things will be lovely until the end of the season, but that’s where we want to go. We are really positive about it. We know that this storm that everybody is talking about – it will go away, but we need to suffer as a team, as a club. Fans have to be together with us, and I’m sure that we will rise again.”
The team has shown signs of improvement, winning their last three matches across all competitions. Dalot emphasized the importance of recent victories not just for the team, but for the fans as well. “It’s massive not just for us, but for the fans,” he said. “Obviously, you go to Old Trafford on Sunday, the atmosphere is already different because you feel that we are winning games. It’s much easier to work, to train when you are winning, and that’s where we want to go.”
The road ahead remains challenging, but Dalot stressed that the squad is united in their resolve to turn things around. “We know that what happened this season has been really tough, not just for us but for all the people involved at the club,” he admitted. “But we want to change it, and we want to start, step by step. The first step is to win games, clean sheets.”
In a related piece of news, Manchester United has completed the signing of Ayden Heaven, an 18-year-old England youth international, from Arsenal. Heaven has signed a contract until 2029, with the option for a further year. He made his debut for Arsenal earlier in the season and is expected to immediately join Amorim’s first-team squad at Old Trafford. This addition is seen as a promising step for the club as they look to rebuild under Amorim’s leadership and strengthen their squad for the future.
