Man Utd defender Diogo Dalot was shown a yellow card in the 2-0 win against Manchester City in the derby at Old Trafford
Dalot fouled Doku in the Manchester derby.(Image: 2026 Manchester United FC)
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Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot believes it was the "right decision" to show him a yellow in the Manchester derby, despite Jeremy Doku being unhappy with the punishment for the challenge.
Manchester City forward Doku went down to the ground at Old Trafford earlier this month. Dalot's challenge was high, but he was shown a yellow by referee Anthony Taylor. Craig Pawson on VAR backed up the decision, while PGMO chief Howard Webb said the pair reached the right conclusion.
Pep Guardiola fumed that Dalot was not sent off. Doku was subsequently unable to feature days later in City's defeat to Bodo/Glimt, and he only came off the bench against Wolves.
Speaking over the weekend, Dalot told BBC Radio Five Live: "I am really comfortable with what happened. In my opinion, he took the right decision because there was no big intensity in the challenge.
"In football, it can go both ways, and it is always about interpretation. I am not afraid of being aggressive or putting every mile onto the pitch. It is what I have been doing for this club for a long time. As long as I wear this shirt, I will not hide myself and I will not play the victim."
Doku was asked about the decision this week and hinted he was unhappy with the decision not to show a red card. "I can only say that I continued to play but was painful to play in Norway," he said
"You guys know my feelings about it. I could have [been out for a long time]. It happened and I didn't play in Norway but I don't want to go too much into it. It is the past now. Thanks to the Lord I didn't get injured badly and I am able to play now. It is the only thing I can focus on now."
Doku added he would not go to the ground if he wasn't hurt. "Knowing myself and my character, I know I am not a diver," he said. "If I fall on the ground, then it is probably because something happened. In terms of laws, I just know that when I am on the ground I am not diving.
"It is their responsibility to see if it is a yellow or red, a foul or not a foul - that is their job."
VAR ruled that the challenge lacked excessive force and therefore the initial caution sufficed. "He should be sent off, it's a red card since the game. But it will be poor as a manager, I've never been that, if you analyse that, to win or lose a game," said Guardiola after the Manchester derby.