This weekend, with the Manchester derby in the Premier League approaching, Dalot will make his 250th appearance for Manchester United. Ahead of this milestone, the Manchester United defender sat down with ESPN's Manchester United correspondent Rob Dawson for an interview. He discussed topics including his nine years at Manchester United, why he has stayed at the club, viewing helping young players as his responsibility, the advantages of Carrick managing Manchester United, the Manchester derby, and helping Manchester United return to its peak. Below is the first part of this exclusive interview.

First of all, thank you very much for taking the time for this interview; I really appreciate it. Obviously, Sunday could be a landmark day for you, as you're about to make your 250th appearance for Manchester United. First, I want to say, as a Manchester United player, how do you feel inside knowing you're about to reach that number of appearances?

I feel incredibly proud. Especially for myself and my family. I think it's been an amazing journey being part of such a big club. To be able to represent the team in so many matches, and I hope to play many more in the future. It really fills me with immense honour. Along the way, I've experienced almost every challenge, the highs and lows, and various scenarios that a professional player can face at a club of this calibre, so it's really a moment of great pride.

Do you still remember how you felt when you got the call from Mourinho and found out you would be joining the club?

That moment is still deeply etched in my mind. Every time I think about this club, my thoughts immediately go back to that moment. I think that was truly the starting point of everything; that call was the first time I truly imagined myself becoming a Manchester United player. So that image will always remain deeply in my memory.

You're now in your ninth season here, having experienced countless highs and lows. Looking back at your journey at Manchester United so far, what are your thoughts?

From my personal perspective, the entire journey has obviously been progressive and continuous. Looking at my early seasons, it was challenging for me, and I struggled, trying to find my place, trying to prove to everyone that I was a good player and that I could stay at this club for a long time. Now, at this stage, it's about trying to use the qualities and experience I've accumulated here to become better and more complete, and to do my best to help the team reach the next level. I think the biggest challenge, and the reason why I still come to Carrington with passion every day, is to do everything I can to help the club return to its rightful place, to compete for the biggest titles in football.

You just mentioned the word "struggle". Many players come here and sometimes find it difficult to cope with the immense scale of this great club, the intense spotlight, and the severe scrutiny from the outside world. Did you experience that when you arrived? Especially considering how young you were when you joined.

Yes, it's not easy. Unless you deeply understand what it means to play for such a big club and are aware of the stature of the team, the country it's in, and the public pressure you'll face, it's hard to fully understand until you really experience it firsthand. But at the same time, I think it's good to experience these challenges when you arrive, because it quickly makes you realise how massive this club is, what professional standards you must maintain every day, and what severe challenges you'll face. For me, being able to feel that is actually a privilege, because it means you're playing for a giant club on such a grand stage, at an extremely high level of competition. Even during difficult times, you know deep down that the team still has the heritage and the potential to reach greater heights and compete for major titles on bigger stages. I think that's what drives us forward every day.

Many players have come and gone during your nine years here. Why do you think some players struggle or lose their way here? And what's your secret to staying here for so long? Because by seniority, you're now probably the second-longest serving player in the squad, perhaps only after Luke Shaw. It's extremely rare for a player to remain at a club like this for so long.

I can't speak to other people's individual circumstances, but for me, what I follow is always having clarity about my pursuits and objectives. From the moment I signed with the club, I absolutely didn't come with the mentality of being a temporary player who would leave after two or three years. I chose to sign because I believe that, as long as you can establish yourself, compete and fight, and be part of a team that has the potential to be the best club in the world, then this is the best place in the world to be. What motivates me, nourishes me, and makes me wake up every morning with a strong desire to come here, is knowing that I want to be part of the team that takes Manchester United back to its peak. Because during my formative years, the Manchester United I saw was constantly competing for titles, constantly winning, and bringing together the greatest talents in world football, and I wanted to be part of that. If some players don't identify with that during their time here, or feel that it's not what they really pursue and desire, then I can only wish them well and hope they find what they're looking for elsewhere. But as for me, as long as I wear this shirt, I will never shy away; I will give everything of myself to drive the team forward and I will be one of the warriors who will help the club return to its peak and compete for the greatest trophies again.

You have repeatedly emphasized that you aspire to be part of the team that takes the club back to its peak. During your time here, you've clearly experienced the joy of winning trophies and high moments, but judging by your tone, it seems you feel you should have won more in these nine years?

That's absolutely true. Looking at my time here, we haven't really fought for the Premier League title to the very end – that feeling of still having a chance to win the title in May. But to compete for the highest titles, you need to maintain that consistency of high performance across every season. We've seen many examples of competitors who push hard for the Premier League title, fighting until the end of the season, only to fall short. So I think to reach that level, we need to find that consistent winning mentality every day and be clear about our ultimate goal. I believe that starts with rigorous individual discipline and self-improvement, and then transforms into a collective effort from the entire team. That's what drives me every day: to strive to be the best version of myself, to help my teammates, and to achieve my own goals, all while bringing the club back to its rightful place.

Traduzido por IA.

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