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Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot has revealed that he is working hard to improve the attacking aspect of his game and become a bigger threat on the pitch.
Since Ruben Amorim took over from Erik ten Hag in November last year, Dalot’s role has shifted from primarily defensive responsibilities to a more attack-minded wing-back position.
In Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, the wing-backs are responsible for providing width – a tactical shift that initially proved challenging for Dalot. However, he now appears to be finding his rhythm in the role.
The Portugal international has notched two assists and one goal in United’s last six appearances. Dalot played a big role in Alejandro Garnacho’s goal against Newcastle on Sunday, bursting into space to slip in the forward, who expertly planted the ball into the bottom corner.
Over the past few games, Dalot has assumed more forward positions and according to the player, this is something he has been working on.
He told club media, “I’ve started being a little bit more up the pitch. I still think I can get into even better positions and arrive a little bit more, and that’s the challenge I have. The qualities are there.”
“It is just trying to adapt also to the new way of playing and trying to help the team as much as I can.”
Dalot stressed the significance of marginal gains, pointing out that small improvements can add up to make a substantial impact over time.
“I always try to see what can I improve on. What can I change? I have that type of belief that there’s always something you can improve.”
“So I’m constantly trying to see ways of trying to improve my game, my way of life, the way I live, my profession and my daily life. So, I’m always trying to see the best for me because ultimately, if I have that approach, I think it will benefit the team.
“Once you start looking at your body as your tool to succeed, to work, then you can start knowing your body a little bit more. You know the timings, you know the loads, you know the best ways to recover, the best ways to push even more. And that comes with time.”
He continued, “I mean, you cannot ask a 18 or 19-year-old player to know their body like that, and even myself, I’m starting now to understand it a little bit, but I think it will take even a couple more years to be to be in the right spot to understand everything about my body. So I’m very curious about whether I can improve my game on and off the pitch to be ready. But like I said, ultimately, I think that’s what we have to do to benefit the club.”
“It’s a way of trying to get to the best level if you want to be able to play in the way football is going now, which can be 60-70 games per season if you’re at a top-level team. You need to start to be prepared for that because it will get really exhausting for the body [if you don’t].”
United are back in action on Thursday when they host Lyon for the return leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie. The aggregate score currently stands at 2-2.
Featured image George Wood via Getty Images
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