Dalot puffed out his cheeks when asked if he felt uncomfortable with Man City's success during his 8 years playing for Man United. After a moment of thought, the Portuguese defender admitted that feeling really existed.
I won't say it's not painful because it really is. There are seasons when we can't even compete with them. It's heartbreaking to say this" - Dalot shared.
Dalot once won the Carabao Cup with Man United in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024, including a victory over Man City in the final. However, since joining the team from FC Porto in 2018, he has witnessed Man City win 5 Premier Leagues, 3 FA Cups, 4 Carabao Cups and 1 Champions League.
Those are the titles that Man United once won when Dalot was young in Portugal. Born in 1999, he grew up during the period when Sir Alex Ferguson's team still dominated English football. Therefore, this defender wants to become a part of the journey to bring Man United back to the top.
I want to be a part of the journey to bring Man United back to the top, because that is the image of the club that I have known since I was a child. I have witnessed them win, compete fairly and own the best players in the world. I want to be also a part of that journey" - Dalot said.
If he plays in the upcoming Manchester derby, Dalot will have his 250th match for Man United. He is currently the player with the second longest time in the squad, only after Luke Shaw, and has gone through a period of turmoil at Old Trafford.
Dalot used to play under 5 official coaches, or 8 if including interim coaches. Besides the continuous changes on the coaching bench, Dalot also witnessed many players coming and going, including many large contracts that did not meet expectations.
I cannot speak for everyone, but I always clearly define what I want to achieve and where I want to go. When signing a contract with the club, I never thought I would leave after only 2 or 3 years. I chose Man United because I believed that this is where I want to stick with and develop" - Dalot said.
The Portuguese defender admitted that he had many difficulties in his early years at Man United. He had to wait for an opportunity under Jose Mourinho, before being loaned to AC Milan when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer led the team.
Now, as one of the most experienced players, Dalot wants to help his young teammates cope with pressure at Old Trafford. Man United have conceded 6 goals in the first 3 Premier League matches this season against Hull City, Ipswich Town and Everton, making the defense continue to be the focus of criticism.
Man United currently only has 4 points after 3 Premier League matches. However, Dalot believes that a victory over Man City could create a turning point, just like what happened last season.
What I learned after playing here is that such matches can create a turning point for the whole season. Last season was a clear example. When we were not in good form, the victory over Man City brought confidence for the team to continue to achieve good results in the following matches" - Dalot added.
