Diogo Dalot has improved for Manchester United in 2026, with his place in Michael Carrick’s 4-2-3-1 system looking secure.
Despite being ever-present under Ruben Amorim, Diogo Dalot had become a glaring weakness for Manchester United given his unsuitability to the wing-back role.
This led to fans turning against the reliable Portuguese full-back given his performances, in the belief the 3-4-3 system was here to stay.
However, in the time since Michael Carrick’s re-appointment and the back four returned, Dalot has quietly been one of United’s most underperforming players.
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Diogo Dalot’s performances under Michael Carrick have been massive improvements
While fans weren’t pleased with his performances earlier this season, Dalot is actually untouchable for United, being rated incredibly highly by his teammates.
Dalot sets excellent professional standards within the United squad, which Benjamin Sesko is the latest to take to. But on the field, his performances recently should see him get the praise he deserves.
While playing as a wing-back, Dalot was being asked to do too much, which exposed his weaknesses, but Carrick has returned him to his natural role, and as a result, the performances have greatly improved.
Since Carrick’s arrival, in the past five games, Dalot has led the team in several key areas, which demonstrates his class when platformed correctly.
- 1st for tackles won – 7/9
- 1st for aerial duels won – 5/5
- 3rd for clearances – 10
- 3rd for pass completion rate – 176/193
- 3rd for assists – 1
Dalot has become the player he was prior to Amorim, dependable and exactly what a top right-back should be. What makes this even more impressive is the opposition that he has managed to perform this well against.
The 26-year-old has came up against Jeremy Doku, Leandro Trossard and Crysencio Summerville in these games, who are some of the best left-wingers in the league right now, but he has passed the challenge with flying colours.
Rate Diogo Dalot’s performances since returning to playing in his natural right-back role📈
He's been much improved as the stats show…🔥
Away from his defensive capabilities, Dalot assisted Bruno Fernandes’ goal against Tottenham with an excellent delivery that shows what he is capable of, and the focus should be on doing it consistently.
Under Amorim, Dalot was also used on the left often, which is very unfamiliar to him, and it’s hardly a shock that he struggled. Even as a wing-back, Dalot would be receiving the ball with his back to goal and in unnatural areas of the pitch.
Dalot as a right back is completely different.
Dalot and Manchester United defence benefit from back-four
Like Dalot, the entire back four has benefited massively from the switch in system to a back four and the result has been profound with two clean sheets in five matching the amount during the rest of the campaign under Amorim.
United have looked structurally sound with Dalot arguably the most improved of the four, as he once again looks like the long-term right-back for the club.
Dalot’s form and consistency has also managed to keep Noussair Mazraoui out of the team since he returned from AFCON, and for good reason.
The thing with Dalot is that he will rarely put in a 9/10 performance, but he will weekly be 7/10 in this system. For this reason, he probably starts for the rest of this season under Carrick, by which stage the narrative around Dalot could look vastly different.
What are the biggest POSITIVES about Diogo Dalot’s game?
The narrative around Diogo Dalot has shifted
If these performances continue to coincide with United’s form improvements, then Dalot’s resurgence and revival within the fanbase will continue.
Dalot was United’s most criticised player under Amorim, but now the shift is happening for him to get the credit he warrants based on recent displays.
Among those to show praise, Rio Ferdinand has hailed Dalot, explaining he looks like a different player under Carrick, becoming one of the first names on the team-sheet. While another glowing review for Dalot from Denis Irwin shows exactly why fans should also begin giving him his flowers again.
Additionally, Gary Neville has even compared Dalot to himself, defending the club’s number two against ‘harsh’ criticisms.
Prior to Amorim and late stages of Erik ten Hag, fans loved Dalot, and we can see him returning to this in the near future and it is excellent to see.
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