Former Manchester United defender Denis Irwin believes his old side can only benefit from the “great competition” for places at full-back.
Following the departure of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in November, both Alex Telles and Diogo Dalot have grasped their opportunity firstly under caretaker manager Michael Carrick and interim boss Ralf Rangnick.
Since the club parted ways with the Norwegian after the 4-1 defeat to Watford, Telles has started eight of our last 10 Premier League games and Dalot has started seven.
The Portuguese speaking pair look to have wrestled control of the full-back positions away from English pair Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Luke Shaw.
But Irwin, who has been particularly impressed with Dalot, thinks the jostling for places will promote healthy competition on the training ground.
Speaking on MUTV, Irwin, who scored 33 goals and made 23 assists from 475 Manchester United appearances, said: “It’s amazing when a manager comes in and sees what he has got at his disposal.
“Aaron’s been injured a couple of times of late, Luke as well, and its obviously given the opportunity to Dalot and Telles. And Dalot has certainly taken it, he’s been really impressive, we all know about [his ability] going forward, but his defending has been good as well.
“He’s slotted right in and there is good competition at right-back now, left-back is the same, Telles has come in because Luke’s either been injured or suspended and the beauty about it going forwards is that there is great competition.
“I think Dalot and Telles are very good going forwards, but all of a sudden when a back four or back five play together regularly and get to know each others games [it shows], and I think we have defended really well in the last few games.”
Prior to the parting of ways with Solskjaer, neither Telles or Dalot had started a Premier League all season.
With some big fixtures on the horizon and the resumption of the Champions League next month, the attack-minded Dalot and Telles will be hoping to stave off competition from Shaw and Wan-Bissaka when they are fit to return, and retain their current status as Manchester United’s first choice full-backs.
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