Eight years after arriving at Old Trafford, Dalot still hopes to win the biggest trophies with Manchester United, with another crucial derby on the horizon. He spoke to ESPN before the match.

Dalot puffed out his cheeks. The question was whether it had been difficult to watch Manchester City rivals achieve so much success during his eight years at Manchester United, and he paused before answering.

"I wouldn't say it doesn't hurt, because it does," he told ESPN. "There have been seasons where we couldn't even compete with them. It's painful to say."

This is exactly the kind of success Manchester United enjoyed when Dalot was growing up in Portugal. He was born in Braga in March 1999, just months before Sir Alex Ferguson's team won the Treble. He was only 14 the last time Manchester United won the Premier League title.

"I want to be part of the team that brings Manchester United back to the top, because that's how I saw this club operate when I was young," Dalot said. "They always won, always competed, had the best players in the world, and I want to be part of that."

Manchester City will visit Old Trafford on Sunday, and if all goes well, Dalot will make his 250th appearance for Manchester United. As the club's longest-serving outfield player aside from Luke Shaw, he is in an ideal position to discuss why the club has failed to consistently challenge Manchester City over the past decade. Constant turmoil has not helped.

Dalot has played under five permanent managers. Including interim and caretaker managers, the number rises to eight. Beyond the managerial changes, players have come and gone from the dressing room, with many costly signings failing to meet expectations. Dalot has lived through it all.

"I can't speak for everyone, but my demand of myself is to always think about who I want to be and where I want to go," he said. "When I signed with the club, I didn't think I'd leave after two or three years. I signed because this is the best place. You become part of a team that has the opportunity to become the biggest club in the world.

"If a player at this time doesn't identify with that, or feels that's not what he needs or wants, then I can only wish him well and hope he pursues it elsewhere."

Dalot admits he "struggled" early in his Manchester United career. He waited for his chance under Jose Mourinho. During Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's tenure, he was loaned out to Milan. The spotlight at Old Trafford is intense. Already this season, the team's defense has come under scrutiny after conceding six goals against Hull City, Ipswich, and Everton.

Dalot has learned to manage this scrutiny. Now, as one of the older players in the dressing room, he also seeks to help his teammates cope with the pressure that comes with wearing the shirt.

"When I arrived, there were some players who had been here a long time, and they helped me understand many things," he said.

"Sometimes you're going through a difficult period, but it's not as bad as you think. People sometimes misunderstand criticism; not all criticism is bad. Sometimes it's constructive criticism, and you have to take responsibility.

"When everything goes well, it makes you feel like one of the best players in the world. You're on top of the world, and then once you hit a setback, you crash down.

"I feel that, having been here so long, I have a responsibility to help players understand that sometimes things aren't as bad as they think, and sometimes they're not as good as they think. I definitely feel that has become one of my responsibilities now."

Dalot understands players who struggle under pressure, but insists it comes with playing for Manchester United.

"I don't think it's easy," he said.

"Unless you really know what it feels like to play for such a big club, how much pressure there is, it's hard to understand until you come and feel it firsthand. At the same time, I think it's good for you to feel it from the start, because it makes you understand how big this club is.

"For me, having that feeling is actually a privilege, because it means you're playing for such a big club, at such a high level. I think that's the motivation we should draw from every day."

Manchester United have had a mixed start to the season, collecting just four points from three Premier League games. With Manchester City as the next opponent, Dalot is well aware of the importance of a derby victory.

A win in the same fixture last January—the first match after Amorim's sacking and Carrick's arrival—triggered a turnaround in form that eventually helped the team qualify for the Champions League, an objective that seemed distant during Amorim's tenure.

"What I've learned during this period is that these matches can change entire seasons," Dalot said. "Last year was an example; we were in terrible form, but the Manchester City match gave us confidence and allowed us to start a winning run.

"This season we haven't gotten the points we should have and hoped for, but these matches can give you a spark and make you feel like you can really push forward. There's no match I want to play more than this one right now."

Apart from Liverpool, perhaps no other match is more important to win for Manchester United fans. Dalot says the fans never hide their feelings.

"It happens often," he said with a laugh. "I've had several times where fans have told me the only thing they want this season is to beat Liverpool or beat Manchester City. But it just shows how important it is to the fans that this club is superior to other teams and beats its rivals."

Although a derby victory is sweet, Dalot's aims are far greater.

Manchester United's reconstruction goal is to challenge for the Premier League title by 2028, the club's 150th anniversary. Dalot admits that only by lifting the biggest trophies will he consider his time at Manchester successful.

"For me, it's winning the Premier League, winning the Champions League," Dalot said. "If you look at my time here, there hasn't really been a moment where we were truly involved in a Premier League title race, where in May, in the final days, you're still in contention.

"If I can be part of bringing this club back to these competitions, that would probably be the greatest achievement of my life. To be honest, that's where this club should be.

"I know that if we really get to that stage, I think something special will form around the club. What motivates me most is doing my best to be part of it and, hopefully, reaching that moment."

Tradotto dall'IA.

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