MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 8: Diogo Dalot of Manchester United reacts during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester United and Aston Villa FC at Old Trafford on November 8, 2026 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 8: Diogo Dalot of Manchester United reacts during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester United and Aston Villa FC at Old Trafford on November 8, 2026 in Manchester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Manchester United fans made their frustrations with Diogo Dalot very clear at Old Trafford on Sunday, but Michael Carrick has defended the under-fire full-back.
The bizarre match finished 4-4 with Aston Villa, as the visitors twice relinquished a two-goal lead to their struggling hosts.
Alysson and Nicolas Jackson had put the Villains 2-0 up within five minutes, only for Bruno Fernandes and Youri Tielemans to put the Red Devils level by half-time.
Villa were two goals in front by 53 minutes as John McGinn and Leon Goretzka started the second half brilliantly and Old Trafford was stunned again.
However, Carrick’s men pulled off a remarkable escape in stoppage time as substitutes Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dourgu both scored after the 90-minute mark to rescue a point.
Dorgu replaced Dalot on 66 minutes after a nightmare performance from the Portugal international, which included conceding a penalty for felling Alysson, leading to McGinn’s goal from the spot.
When his number came up there were loud cheers from supporters at Old Trafford, which turned to boos as he left the field.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 08: Alysson Edward of Aston Villa is fouled by Diogo Dalot of Manchester United resulting in a penalty during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester United and Aston Villa FC at Old Trafford on November 08, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 08: Alysson Edward of Aston Villa is fouled by Diogo Dalot of Manchester United resulting in a penalty during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester United and Aston Villa FC at Old Trafford on November 08, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
The 27-year-old has played in all 10 of Manchester United’s Premier League fixtures this season but when Carrick was asked if it was time for him to come out of the team, he pushed back and defended the full-back.
‘We’ve got to be careful with that, I think,’ said the Red Devils boss.
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‘I understand the frustration and the disappointment of the supporters. I get it, we’re all frustrated, we’re all disappointed. The players are as much as anyone, I guarantee you that.
‘Diogo gives absolutely everything. He’s played in different positions, he’s played really well at times.
‘He gives the penalty away today, he knows that. Maybe he can do a little bit better, alright, that’s part of it, he’s made a mistake.
‘He cares an awful lot and he’s giving everything. I like what he brings to the team, I like what he brings to the group, I like what he brings to the whole environment and the culture that we’ve got.
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Michael Carrick has spoken up for his defender (Picture: REUTERS)
‘Picking a team and who plays the next game that’s a whole different decision and that’s a whole different game that we’ve got to look forward to now.’
Dalot signed for Manchester United in 2018 and has become something of a symbol of the mediocrity that fans have watched since then.
Gary Neville, who knows plenty about playing full-back for Manchester United, defended Dalot from criticism earlier this year, saying in January on his Sky Sports podcast: ‘He gets a really harsh view at times [from] quite a few United fans. I do think there’s a half-decent full-back in there, and I watch full-backs so closely.
‘I think he’s actually good in the air. I think he’s got good athleticism about him. I think he’s decent on the ball. I don’t think he’s a world-class full-back, but neither was I.’
He added: ‘I think he’s got something about him. I think he’s got 7/10 in him every single week, Dalot, but because we’ve seen him at left wing-back, we’ve seen him at right wing-back, we’ve seen him exposed so many times.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 8: Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United applauds the fans after the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester United and Aston Villa FC at Old Trafford on November 8, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 8: Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United applauds the fans after the Premier League 2026/27 match between Manchester United and Aston Villa FC at Old Trafford on November 8, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Ed Sykes/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
‘I think if he just played right full-back and played there all the time, I wouldn’t be getting rid of him in a hurry.
‘Now, other people might disagree with me, but I think I know the position of full-back, and I think he could do a decent job for Manchester United.’
Neville was not complimentary about the United defence on Sunday, though, saying on NBC Sports: ‘The reason that Manchester United have conceded four goals is they haven’t invested in the defence in the transfer window.
‘Everybody knew they had to invest in the defence. They needed defenders. They’re making mistake after mistake after mistake.’
The draw with Villa means Manchester United have won just one of their opening 10 games of the Premier League season and sit 18th in the table.