Manchester United left-back Dalot recently spoke to DAZN about the start of Manchester United's new season, his decision to leave Porto years ago, and Portugal's performance at the 2026 World Cup.

In the new Premier League season, Dalot came off the bench in the first match against Hull City and then started consecutively against Ipswich and Everton. The team suffered a surprising 0-2 defeat to Hull City at the start of the season. Dalot admitted that the disappointing start was frustrating: "Last season, we established a solid foundation, and everyone had high expectations for the new season. The poor start was frustrating for the fans. Manchester United was built to compete for titles, and we should win as many matches as possible."

He believes a poor start doesn't mean all the training work has failed: "Results can hide many positive things done on the pitch. That's how it is at big clubs; the outside world only looks at the final score. Fortunately, football always offers a chance to correct mistakes. Every player must do self-assessment and be willing to make sacrifices, whether that means sacrificing time with family or investing more in recovery work. Our goal is to compete in the Champions League, reach cup finals, and fight for the Premier League title. The team environment is excellent and we have enough squad depth to handle a packed schedule."

Reflecting on his decision to leave his boyhood club Porto for Manchester United for 22 million euros, Dalot affirmed it was the right choice. He suffered an injury shortly after arriving at Manchester United and once doubted his decision. Nearly nine years have passed in a flash, and looking back, he is filled with emotion: "This experience has tempered my mind. Being away from my homeland and competing in the most competitive league in the world, countless difficult moments have brought me emotional and professional maturity, allowing me to handle setbacks with greater calm." During this period, he also had a loan spell at AC Milan.

Speaking about the Portuguese national team, Portugal was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in the round of 16 following a 0-1 defeat to Spain, with Merino scoring the winning goal in the final moments. Dalot said that Portuguese football is gaining increasing recognition worldwide, and the team has many talented players, but individual talent alone is not enough for team performance.

"In recent years, we've proven that we can compete with any team in the world. However, in major tournaments like the World Cup and Euros, individual talent is far from sufficient. We need to find that missing piece of the puzzle and consolidate individual talents into a strong team. I believe that in future major tournaments, Portugal can once again make the nation proud."

Traduzido por IA.

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