Manchester United managed to pause the ongoing negativity surrounding the team with a 0-0 draw against Aston Villa. While this result didn’t necessarily bring manager Erik ten Hag closer to being sacked, it also didn’t fully secure his job.
However, the draw, along with their midweek tie against Porto, has bought him some time, showing that the players are still fighting for him. Among these players is Diogo Dalot, who was included in the BBC team of the week for his strong performance, a significant improvement from his showing a week earlier.
Dalot, a defender for Manchester United, was the only player from the club to be featured in the BBC’s weekly team. Though veteran center-back Jonny Evans was close to earning a spot, having won Manchester United’s fan vote for man of the match, Dalot’s efforts stood out.
Former Premier League forward Troy Deeney, who helped select the team, praised Dalot’s consistency over the past few years, even though his performances this season have been less than stellar.
Deeney noted that Dalot, whether deployed at left-back or right-back, has consistently put in solid performances. His display against Aston Villa, a team in strong form, was particularly noteworthy, helping United secure a crucial point.
Earlier in the season, Dalot had struggled in matches like the one against Tottenham, partly due to Erik ten Hag experimenting with his role by asking him to operate in midfield at times.
This positional tinkering caused some confusion and left Dalot out of place defensively. However, against Aston Villa, ten Hag adjusted his approach, asking Dalot to stick to a more traditional full-back role rather than the inverted full-back tactic.
The simplified role allowed Dalot to perform much better, defending more cohesively with his teammates and even making a crucial block late in the game. This was Dalot’s 43rd match for both club and country in 2024, and his performance against Villa was a key factor in Manchester United’s respectable result against a tough opponent.
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