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Dalot isn't great, but it's not terrible either. |
Manchester United exited the FA Cup in a familiar fashion: possession, plenty of shots, but lacking in ideas and attacking threat. At Old Trafford, the 1-2 defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion wasn't a shock in terms of the scoreline, but rather confirmation of a lost season.
In that bleak picture, Diogo Dalot becomes the focal point of all the anger, not because of a fatal mistake, but because of a long-accumulated feeling of "enough is enough."
Dalot - lots of movement, little value
Fabian Hürzeler's Brighton played true to their identity: tight, composed, and effective. Brajan Gruda's opening goal, followed by Danny Welbeck's cool finish, were like precise cuts to a disorganized team.
Manchester United, despite launching 18 shots, were unable to score against Jason Steele. This inability stemmed not from a lack of effort, but from a lack of quality in crucial moments.
In a match where Manchester United dominated possession, Dalot was the player with the most touches for the home team, excluding one Brighton player. That sounds positive, but football isn't judged by the number of touches.
The question is: What does Dalot do with those touches?
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Dalot is just an ordinary player at Manchester United. |
Two situations in the first half clearly illustrated the story. Dalot appeared in the highest position on the right wing, had space, time, and options for link-up play.
But one by one, the plays ended with a slow decision, a lifeless cross, or a shot lacking feeling. It wasn't just a matter of fluctuating form. It was a limit.
Dalot has good physical fitness, decent speed, and is a hard worker. But at the level Manchester United needs, those are only necessary conditions, not sufficient ones.
A modern full-back must be able to create chances, read the game in the final third, and most importantly, make the right decisions under pressure. Dalot often managed the first two parts well, then faltered in the final one.
Therefore, the feeling of being "overhyped," appearing fine but actually delivering no value, haunted the Portuguese player for many seasons. He didn't play disastrously badly, but he also rarely played brilliantly in a way that decided matches. For a club desperate for a new identity and standard, this indecisiveness was more dangerous than a mistake.
When patience becomes an excuse
Dalot has worked under many different managers: from Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Erik ten Hag to Ruben Amorim. This enduring presence was once seen as proof of his professionalism.
But at some point, it also raises the opposite question: why does Manchester United keep adapting to Dalot instead of finding a better option?
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It's time for Manchester United to make a decision about Dalot. |
The defeat to Brighton, in the wake of Amorim's departure, felt like the curtain was finally drawn. Fans had lost patience with the familiar excuses: "he's versatile," "he's consistent," "he's always available." Average consistency was no longer an acceptable standard at Old Trafford.
The anger from the stands and social media may be emotional, even bitter. But behind those words lies a very clear demand: Manchester United needs to be decisive about players who are no longer capable of lifting the team to new heights.
Dalot wasn't the only culprit, but he's a prime example of persistent stagnation.
With the FA Cup concluded, Manchester United's season is drawing to a close with fewer games played than at any other time in over a century. That's the harsh reality. And if they want to break free from this cycle of disappointment, the club's leadership can no longer afford to play it safe.
For Diogo Dalot, all signs indicated that time was running out.
Source: https://znews.vn/fa-cup-phoi-bay-gioi-han-cua-dalot-post1618875.html
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