One Manchester United player has spoken out his need to run, and run, and run, amid some claims players are exhausted.
After a Manchester United defeat, you often get reports coming out of dressing room discontent. It’s par for the course.
The latest comes via The MEN, which claims ‘some players’ are concerned with the amount of running the team has to do under Erik ten Hag.
Well, one player has issued an indirect response to these claims, via an interview with Manchester United club media.
Diogo Dalot speaks out
Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot has been one of the team’s most improved players in 2023/24, a key player, and currently the squad‘s only fit full-back.
Dalot’s interview saw him discuss his role in the team, and the absolute necessity to be as fit as possible to cope with the demands of the current game.
Dalot said: “Obviously, if you’re a midfielder and a full-back, you will run a little bit more than probably a winger or centre-back. But that’s just part of the game nowadays.
“We need to adapt constantly and we just need to [do it], especially in a league like the Premier League, which is high intensity, high tempo and everything is the highest speed and on the hardest level. So you need to be ready.
“It’s part of my game, obviously, and our game. I just like to say this: it’s our game. Not just me but every full-back that plays in the team. They need to be ready to help the team going forward and to defend. So these are the demands and standards for the club.
“Especially for a full-back, if you want to help on the attack, and at the same, it’s trying to be a good defender. You need to have energy.”
Dalot is fully committed
Dalot is certainly not one of the players concerned with the amount of running required. He is on the same page as Erik ten Hag’s coaching staff that it is a necessity.
This is not just applicable to games. If you don’t put in the hard graft in training sessions, then you won’t cope in the matches.
If there are some moaners in the Manchester United squad, leaking to the press, then they need to follow Dalot’s example and get aligned with their manager.
If there are concerns that they are being pushed too hard, then these should be taken up internally with the club’s medical department, not via the press.
Dalot meanwhile has managed to keep fully fit, only missing a matchday squad this season when he was suspended for one game following a red card for dissent away at Liverpool.
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