Photo by Europa Press Sports/Europa Press via Getty Images
Photo by Europa Press Sports/Europa Press via Getty Images
Diogo Dalot returns for Manchester United this weekend against PSG, but what was once his position for the taking now has some surprising competition.
Manchester United’s right-back position has been one of the safest positions on the team since Michael Carrick took charge in January, with Diogo Dalot pretty immovable.
Dalot has been vital under Carrick, with United struggling without him, and Noussair Mazraoui proving to be no match in this system as a full-back.
Without Dalot, United were winless under Carrick, and the Portuguese defender probably viewed the role as his own. But pre-season has seen a shock rival emerge.
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Manchester United Training Session
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While Mazraoui had a good World Cup, he hasn’t been good enough for United besides some appearances at centre-back. We can’t envision him challenging Dalot.
But Leny Yoro might, having performed really well this summer in a right-back position.
Without a senior natural right-back in training, Yoro has filled in impressively as a full-back for United and looked like a natural all summer, in and out of possession.
Dalot’s importance and quality cannot be disputed, but to re-establish himself as the outright starter, he will have to displace Yoro, which won’t be easy.
In Carrick’s system, Yoro suits the role perfectly. Capable of progressing play, but then defensively looks a lot more comfortable on the right than centrally.
Yoro is almost a full-back in the style of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, with all the qualities needed to play there despite being a natural centre-back.
Dalot will start the season because he is one of the best right-backs in the Premier League, but Yoro could establish himself as a proper and viable option in the position next season, which is needed considering the extra games United will hopefully be playing.
Mason Mount win rate comparison
Mason Mount win rate comparison
While the importance of Dalot to United isn’t lost on many, there are pockets of the fanbase who love to hate on the defender and use him as a scapegoat for whatever goes wrong.
Under Ruben Amorim, there was somewhat understandable because he wasn’t good for large periods of the season, primarily due to being played out of position, on the left, or being asked to take up attacking roles.
But for Carrick, back in his natural right-back role, Dalot has excelled, looked every bit as good as we know he can be, and deserved all of the praise he ended up getting for his performances from January onwards.
Dalot is deserving of respect and acknowledgement within the fanbase, as, outside of it being trendy to hate on him across social media, he is as good a right-back as they come.
He also has a huge impact off the pitch for United, with his character making him a leader within the squad.