Diogo Dalot has spoken passionately about Manchester United and our future in a fascinating interview with Owen Hargreaves, for the Premier League’s Masterclass series.
The Portuguese full-back joined the club back in 2018 and, factoring in an educational season-long loan at AC Milan, he is now enjoying his sixth full campaign as a Red. It’s fair to say he has experienced highs and lows along the way, moulding him into the top professional he is today.
Known for his commitment, consistency and passion, Dalot is closing in on 200 United appearances and, when talking to Hargreaves, he is clearly moved by the power of our club. He is proud of his achievements so far, and hungry to reward our supporters for enduring turbulent times.
Throughout a revealing conversation at Carrington, Diogo speaks candidly about his journey so far, the player who changed his football career and why he can “guarantee”
success in the future.
Watch the unmissable video below, before checking out the key quotes…
BUILDING A NEW HISTORY
“Obviously, there's been a change in manager and I hope this manager stays for 10 years and we can build a new Man United history with trophies and wins. That will arrive, I can guarantee you. If it's now or in the future, I can guarantee this club will win again. I am 100 per cent sure of it. It's too big not to. And I don't think there is a better place to be when you are winning and when you are actually competing. I don't think there is anywhere else you could desire to be.”
JOINING UNITED IN 2018
“When [Jose] Mourinho called me, it was an easy decision for me. It was straightaway. I cannot lie, I had a few other clubs who my agent had already met with. I hadn't met them personally, but my agent had. As soon as you get the call [from United], it's different.”
“As soon as I met him my life in football changed completely. Because I saw something. I already considered myself a good professional. But he pushed me to another level.”
PRESSURE OF JOINING UNITED
“I don't think you can teach somebody to be ready for that. As soon as you arrive at this club, it's a shock in every aspect, for the positive and the negative. For you to find that balance of being able to cope with the pressure, with the highs and lows, it takes some time.
“It took me four years to start playing regularly and consistently with this team. I will not say it takes that time for everybody, but for me it was a tough period. I had to come, I played, there was a change in manager, a change in decisions, injuries. I went on loan, I had to take that decision. I had a very honest conversation with [Ole Gunnar] Solskjaer at the time and said, 'listen, I need to play, I need to show you that if I can play regularly, I can show you that I need to play for this club'.”
“I hope this manager stays for 10 years and we can build a new Man United history with trophies and wins. That will arrive, I can guarantee you. If it's now or in the future, I can guarantee this club will win again.”
AN EMOTIONAL FAN ENCOUNTER
“The thing that touched me the most happened to me last summer, at the end of last season. We all know that last season was a very tough season for us and I imagine that, for you as a fan, it was tough. Imagine for us, we were on the inside of the pitch. We won the FA Cup and a few days later I was in the street. A fan came to me and said, 'Diogo, thank you'. I asked why and he said, 'thank you for winning the FA Cup, you gave us a little bit of joy'. And to be honest I was almost emotional thinking about it. I thought he would come to me and say 'Diogo, come on, this season was not what we wanted, but at least we got a trophy'. But this small thing, for me, it's what I take.”
“We won the FA Cup and a few days later I was in the street. A fan said, 'Diogo, thank you'. I asked why and he said, 'thank you for winning the FA Cup, you gave us a little bit of joy'. I was almost emotional thinking about it.”
LEARNING FROM CRISTIANO RONALDO
“I have said this a couple of times, as soon as I met him my life in football changed completely. Because I saw something. I already considered myself, before I met him, a good professional. But he pushed me to another level.”
Diogo Dalot was speaking to the Premier League for their Masterclass series.