Interview with Dalot: Being voted the best in the team last season was my proudest moment never to relax the standards

On October 22, the Manchester United website's "Manchester United Review" interviewed the team's full-back Dalot, Dalot talked about his experience as a Red Devil, and how he plans to help the team。

You were named player of the year last season。What does this honor mean to you？Being here for six years, does this feel like a milestone in your career？

Darrott: "Yes, absolutely。I would say it's one of my proudest moments at this club, especially because it's recognition from my team-mates, the people I spend the most time with。Except for my family!They see me every day, the hard work I put in, and that recognition is a proud moment for me because it makes me feel like I'm doing the right thing。This is very special.。”

In the last year or two, you seem to have moved into the ranks of the senior players - does it feel that way for you personally？

Dalot: "It's a part of me now。I think it happens naturally。I don't force it. I just feel that being here for so long has given me a lot of experience。Playing more games has also helped me to be in this position。I think it all happened naturally and I think it helped me and the club。So that's one thing I enjoy。”

When we say Dalot is a "senior player", what do you think that means？Is it taking on more responsibility and being more vocal in the locker room？What do you think about this problem？

Darrott: "I think it includes everything。Obviously, I don't see myself as a senior player - I'm still young。But when you are in one place for a long time, you start to get to know the people around you very well, everyone at the club。I like to welcome new players and make them feel welcome。When they arrive, make sure they know the values and standards of the club。I think that's what I've always tried to pass on to them, while never letting up on those standards。Knowing you have to be the first to show them that。Of course, I will pass this on to my teammates。”

The fans often talk about your celebration after a goal, or your reaction after we win a game。You seem like a little bit of a fan player。Do you really feel that way sometimes in those moments on the court？

Darrott: "Yes。I think it's a feeling you get when you've been at a club for a long time and you start to see the club as more than just a player, more than a job。That's the way I like to handle things。Trying to understand how the fans will feel, what kind of emotion they have for the club, how much they know about the club - these are things I have struggled to understand and appreciate since I arrived here。Of course, the longer you are on the field and the more you understand the emotions it brings to the fans, then you become more like them。I think that's the best combination: when you play for a club and you have love for that club, I think it's a perfect match。”

As we said, you've been here for six years and in that time you've had to fight for your place in the team before really establishing yourself as a regular starter the last two years。Do you enjoy the challenge？Are new players coming in and competition for places necessary at big clubs？

Dalot: "If you want to reach the highest level of football, you have to be prepared。I've been lucky enough to go through every stage of this club: playing, getting injured, not being picked by the coach, playing in every game...So I've gone through all the stages that a footballer can go through in this period of time，And that led me to these experiences，And help me understand what some of my teammates sometimes feel when they are not in good form。So I think that's an advantage for football players: to go through all these processes。I've lived through them, fought through them and worked through them, and I think I've been doing that and need to continue to do that。Because the expectations are going to be higher and higher, the demands are always going to be higher, especially at this club。So I've been trying to do that。”

We've seen you spend a lot of time in the midfield area this season, getting into some very attacking positions。Are you enjoying the role？If so, what do you like about it？

Dallott: "It gave me something different。There's a little bit of a different perspective on the pitch。As you know, and as anyone who loves football knows, the midfield game is much faster than the wide areas。There's always someone close, there's always someone pressing on you, so it makes me think faster。That's what I've always enjoyed doing;It's a solution we found to adapt to our style of play。So as long as the situation is good, as long as the coach keeps the trust, I am willing to do it。”

This season we have seen several new faces join the defence。How is it going？Can you build those relationships in training, or can it only really solidify in games？

Dallott: "It's a daily challenge to make that connection。We are particularly looking at the back line, and possibly a certain number six, as a bulwark for the team。So we always try to make sure that the link is very strong。At the end of the day, I think if we don't concede, we will be closer to winning the game。We know it wasn't done last season and there were a lot of situations I don't want to talk about again。But this season has improved。We know we can do better, so I think it's a process that's going to take time, not just because of new people coming in。It's always different when there are new players, but as a team we need to deal with that。”

Mazrawi is one of those new faces。He can play in a similar position to you - right-back and left-back。So what do you think of his start at United and the way he has fitted in？

Darrott: "Very good。He showed that he is a very good player。It is no coincidence that he has played for one of the biggest clubs in the world, so to have him here I think is a treat for us players。That's why the club bought him, that's why the club wanted him here。We just need to use his strengths。When he is on the pitch, I feel he is a good player who can give us many different things and as long as he continues to help the team, I am sure he will be very helpful to us。”

We are starting to see some other full-backs coming back from injury。Malaysia is more involved in training - the team must be happy to see him get stronger after such a long recovery？

Darrott: "Yes。It was hard to see the struggles he went through。You can't imagine how hard it is not to be able to do what you love for that long。That's why we celebrate when he trains with us, even if it's just a small practice...Make sure he feels we are ready to welcome him and continue to help him because he needs that support。After all, he has been out of training for a long time since the injury。We are very happy to have him back。The team needs him, the club needs him, so we're really happy。”

Regarding Onana's form, how do you assess his development over the past year？

Dalot: "I think it's more of a mental change than an improvement in football skills。I think he's still the same player。The only thing he has changed is that he is more balanced mentally and really ready for the highs and the downs。At this club, because of the demands and expectations we have, it's easy to break down mentally and feel really bad。Even when things are going well for you, it can make you feel over-excited。So I think he's found that balance between calmness and confidence, and I think that's been really good on the court。”