Diogo Dalot Eyes 250th Manchester United Appearance in City Derby
Diogo Dalot is in line to make his 250th Manchester United appearance when Manchester City visit Old Trafford on Sunday, with the Portuguese defender calling the derby a potential turning point after a four-point start from three Premier League matches.
The 26-year-old says United’s meetings with City can reshape a campaign. A January derby victory, in Michael Carrick’s first match after Ruben Amorim’s dismissal, sparked the run that eventually delivered Champions League qualification.
Dalot targets derby response
- United opened the league season with four points from three games, while the defence has come under pressure after allowing six goals across matches against Hull City, Ipswich Town and Everton.
- City now arrive at Old Trafford, and Dalot believes a win could provide the confidence United need to build momentum.
- He said there is no fixture the squad would rather face at this point, arguing that derby results have the power to “change seasons”.
- Dalot added that supporters regularly remind players that victories over City and Liverpool are among their biggest demands.
“Last year showed what can happen,” Dalot said. “We were not in a good place, then the City game gave us confidence and we started winning. We have not taken all the points we wanted this season, but a match like this can give you that push.”
Eight years of change at United
Dalot joined United from FC Porto in 2018 as a teenager and is now the club’s second-longest-serving player behind Luke Shaw. He has worked under five permanent managers, or eight bosses when interim and caretaker appointments are included.
- He initially found opportunities limited under José Mourinho and says the early part of his United career was difficult.
- During Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s spell in charge, Dalot spent time on loan at AC Milan.
- He returned to establish himself at Old Trafford, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023.
- United then beat City to lift the FA Cup in 2024.
Those trophies have been exceptions in a period dominated locally by City. Since Dalot arrived in Manchester, City have won five Premier League crowns, three FA Cups, four League Cups and the Champions League.
“It has hurt,” Dalot said of watching City’s success. “There were seasons when we were not even able to compete with them, and it is difficult to admit that.”
The defender, born in Braga in March 1999 shortly before United completed their treble, grew up watching the club dominate English football. He was 14 when United secured their most recent league title, the 20th in their history.
Pressure and long-term ambition
Dalot says the turnover of coaches and players has made sustained progress harder. He has watched expensive arrivals fail to meet expectations, but insists his own commitment has never been based on a short stay.
“I signed for Manchester United because I saw it as the right place,” he said. “It is a club that can be the biggest in the world. If someone does not feel connected to that, or wants something different, I can only wish them well elsewhere.”
Now one of the more experienced members of the squad, Dalot says he has a duty to help newer teammates handle the scrutiny that comes with playing for United. He was aided by senior figures when he arrived and believes criticism can be useful when players accept responsibility.
He warned against allowing praise to create complacency or allowing setbacks to feel catastrophic. “Sometimes a difficult spell is not as bad as it seems, and sometimes success is not as good as it feels,” he said. “That is one of the roles I have now.”
Dalot accepts that some players struggle beneath the spotlight but views that pressure as part of the privilege of representing United. He says experiencing it immediately shows new signings the scale of the club.
United’s wider rebuild is targeting a Premier League challenge in 2028, the club’s 150th anniversary. For Dalot, however, the standard is simple: competing for and winning the Premier League and Champions League.
“In all my time here, we have not reached the final weeks of a league season truly fighting for the title,” he said. “To help put this club back into those competitions would probably be the biggest achievement of my life. That is where Manchester United should be.”
