- Diogo Dalot has admitted that winning the FA Cup won’t silence United’s critics
- The Portuguese has been awarded the club’s Players’ Player of the Year prize
- Have Chelsea offered Manchester United a way out of the Erik ten Hag darkness through Mauricio Pochettino’s exit? – Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off! Podcast
Diogo Dalot admits that even lifting the FA Cup won’t silence criticism of Manchester United as they try to repay fans for a season of suffering.
United finished in the club’s lowest-ever Premier League position and bottom of their Champions League group, and must now beat Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday to avoid missing out on Europe for only the second time in 34 years.
One of the lowest points in a season decimated by injuries was a 4-0 hammering at Crystal Palace at the start of this month, and Dalot is determined to end on a high by avenging the Cup Final defeat to City a year ago.
‘Even if you win the FA Cup, people will still have the same opinion,’ said the Portugal defender.
‘You can’t hide from the results that we have had, but you cannot also hide the amount of problems that we have through injury especially – it’s really difficult.
Diogo Dalot has admitted that winning the FA Cup won’t silence the criticism of fans
The full-back has been crowned the Players’ Player of the Year at Manchester United
‘Listen, I’m going to be really honest with you: after that game against Palace, the way the fans were supporting us, it was almost like a feeling that we didn’t deserve that. They were still there pushing us after the awful game we had.
‘When you have something that can still bring you a bit of comfort in terms of this season, we just have to take it.’
Dalot has played through the pain barrier to help United cope with the injury crisis, making more starts than any other outfield player at Old Trafford and switching between right-back, left-back and even midfield.
It has earned him the Player’s Player of the Year award from his teammates, and now he is ready to suffer one more time against City.
‘I’ve become more obsessed about being physically and mentally available for every game, especially after meeting Cristiano (Ronaldo) and spending a lot of time with him,’ he added.
‘There are games that you have to forget a little bit of the pain. The team needs you because there are no players. Are you ready to go the extra mile for the team?
‘City dominate so much in the last few years that they create this fear factor. But when you’re playing Man United versus Man City, I don’t believe they come in with the idea that we fear them.
Dalot admitted the players felt they didn’t ‘deserve’ support after losing 4-0 to Crystal Palace
‘I think it comes a lot from your heart, from your head, to be at your best level and be able to suffer – because there are going to be times when you have to suffer.
‘But they know we can beat them. We’ve done it before so on Saturday we have to do it again.’
