Dalot: Barely talk to my Portuguese City teammates before the derby, we'll discuss the match at training

Manchester United's appearance count of 250 for Dalot comes this weekend in the Premier League Manchester derby. Ahead of the match, the Manchester United defender was interviewed by Rob Dawson, ESPN's Manchester United reporter. He discussed his nine years at Manchester United, why he has stayed at the club, his sense of responsibility to help young players, the advantages of Carrick as manager, the Manchester derby, and helping United return to the top. The following is the third part of this exclusive interview.

You seem to have a deep emotional connection with Old Trafford fans. I've watched many of your matches, and before every game at Old Trafford, you specifically walk to the Stretford End to greet your loyal supporters. How important is this interaction with fans to you?

It's very important, because I believe Manchester United is a club driven by immense energy. From a purely technical perspective, you can make mistakes, miss chances, or lose control of skills you normally execute effortlessly. But as long as your fighting spirit is there, your dedication is evident, and the fans in the stands can feel you're giving everything to defend this shirt, they can give you overwhelming power in an instant. That's the impactful energy you feel at Old Trafford.

I'm 100% certain that every visiting rival also feels this suffocating pressure. If we press with full intensity and great momentum in the first 20 minutes at Old Trafford, it's extremely difficult for opponents to settle and regain control. I believe this connection with the fans, letting the stands see the team united, is extremely important and meaningful. If I can contribute even a little, just one percent, I myself am someone driven by passion every day, and I'm used to expressing myself this way and transmitting this energy to my teammates and the fans in the stands. If it can provide even one percent of a boost, I'd feel incredibly rewarded.

Do you feel the home advantage at Old Trafford has been restored? Because it now seems much harder for visiting teams to get an easy win here compared to two years ago. Since Michael Carrick took over, the team has won some difficult matches. Has this also changed visiting teams' psychology, making them feel daunted when they enter Old Trafford?

Yes, I think there's been some improvement, but that's how the Theatre of Dreams should always be. Our goal must be to remain unbeaten at Old Trafford throughout an entire season. This must become an impregnable fortress, this is our home, and visiting teams must find it incredibly difficult and challenging to play here, seeing no hope of getting points. Because when the players on the pitch and the fans in the stands are completely united, we are invincible. So I really feel we're rebuilding a special deterrent at this stadium, and this is exactly the belief I crave every time I step into Old Trafford.

You also have close friends from the Portuguese national team at Manchester City, like Rúben Dias and Matheus Nunes. What is your relationship like with them as the derby approaches? Do you cut contact completely or continue exchanging messages?

Actually, we barely communicate before an important match. Usually, it's not until we join the national team camp that we sit down to review the match, discussing certain details and incidents on the pitch. Given the rivalry between the two clubs, we do our best to maintain mutual professional respect around the derby. Of course, in the national team camp, everyone naturally talks about club matchups. But before the match is decided, we implicitly maintain this professional approach.

Finally, two more questions. What objectives do you still aspire to achieve in your future career at Manchester United? Is there a strong internal conviction you must fulfill before leaving this club?

Absolutely. For me, that is winning the Premier League title, winning the Champions League, and truly having the absolute strength to compete for these highest honors. This would probably be the most glorious achievement of my career. Being one of the contributors to helping Manchester United return to the throne means a great deal to me. Frankly, that's where Manchester United belongs, and I believe everyone in world football agrees. I know that once we get infinitely close to that final objective, the energy unleashed by the club and Red Devils fans around the world will surely propel us across the finish line. This is my greatest source of motivation: to give everything to be part of this revival and look forward to that glorious moment with the team.

I imagine that in the past, during some low moments, you felt those grand visions were out of reach. But now, with the team constantly moving in the right direction, do you feel closer to making your dreams a reality?

Yes, but that's the beauty of Manchester United. Every new season reignites your ambition, making you believe the team has the capacity to fight and achieve great things. But none of this can be accomplished easily with a snap of the fingers or just by saying "with my belief and desire alone." It requires hard, constant work day after day and unity and collaboration from the entire team. This is also where my focus lies. Besides doing my job well, whenever I have the opportunity, if I can motivate a teammate beside me, motivate a staff member, or even push the management, I will definitely do everything I can. I believe this is my current mission: on one hand, to focus on the pitch, striving to become a more complete and elite modern defender; on the other hand, to motivate two or three teammates around me through my actions, so we all work together toward the highest objective. This is a mission I feel deeply responsible for.

One last question. You're about to reach your 250th appearance for Manchester United. From the perspective of your personal future plans, do you imagine yourself retiring at Manchester United? Playing another 250 matches on top of your current appearances?

As I said before, when I signed with the club, I never imagined leaving at a specific moment. If you had asked me back then whether I expected to play 250 matches, the answer would be yes, because from the moment I signed, I was mentally prepared to play here for ten years. Now it's my ninth season, so why not look to the future? I would love to play another 250 matches for Manchester United. That would be an incredible achievement. Looking at Manchester United's glorious history, many legendary players have made over 450 appearances. But reaching 250 matches, I could go home proud, feeling very proud to have worn this glorious shirt that many times. Of course, I hope this number can continue to increase significantly in the future.

If you can be part of the team that finally helps Manchester United reclaim the Premier League title, every person on that team will become a legend enshrined in the club's history.

That's what I hope for, that's my ultimate goal. This is a grand vision deeply rooted in my heart, and I sincerely hope to make it a reality with my own hands.

Traducido por IA.

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