Diogo Dalot probably tops the list of players who routinely get the brunt of criticism, but Benjamin Sesko has just explained why he’s untouchable at Man Utd.
Regardless of how well the team is doing, one player or another always ends up becoming the lightning rod for criticism at any club.
At Man Utd, that’s Diogo Dalot, partly because he’s actually not very good sometimes, and partly because his availability means he keeps playing when others break down, so his failures are “more visible”.
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However, ask Benjamin Sesko, and he’ll explain why Dalot is actually untouchable at United, echoing the point formerly made by Bruno Fernandes and Cristiano Ronaldo as well.
Benjamin Sesko on Diogo Dalot’s role at Man Utd
Sesko is the current hero of Man Utd fans, after his two goals earned Man Utd three points against Fulham and West Ham in recent games.
The way he’s settled at the club since Ruben Amorim’s sacking has been great to see, promising the hope for an even better return in time.
However, his start wasn’t the best at Old Trafford as he couldn’t get going right away, and the team also struggled to get him involved.
When he was facing doubt and criticism, Sesko revealed that Dalot was the player who mentored him, seeing Sesko as a “younger version of himself”.
Speaking on Man Utd’s Inside Carrington podcast, Sesko said, “Diogo Dalot [I bond with in particular]. From the start, he was really helping me.
“Trying to help me in all the ways because it’s a different world here. I’m really grateful that he stood up, and he saw his younger self in me. We are still pushing each other every day, doing all the work.”
Dalot’s off-pitch role goes under the radar
Every manager since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has walked in and, after assessing his options, decided that Diogo Dalot should be the first-choice right-back.
What are the biggest POSITIVES about Diogo Dalot’s game?
Except for a Player of the Season-winning season in 2023/24, Dalot hasn’t been the biggest fan favourite, but Sesko’s comments show why he’s highly valued by the club.
His role as a dressing room leader, someone who makes the new signings feel comfortable and sets the standards in match preparation, recovery, and professionalism seep through the club.
Sesko is just the latest in a long line of players who have been left impressed by Dalot’s application to the game and how he extracts the last bit from his game for the benefit of the team.
Ronaldo named Dalot as one of the few players he saw as a model professional when he ranted about United, and the right-back also helped Bruno Fernandes when he joined, despite being so young at the time himself.
That’s something the fans will never see, but Sesko’s comments continue to provide a glimpse into how important Dalot actually is to the club.
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