Eight years after joining Manchester United, Dalot still hopes to win the biggest trophies with the club, and another crucial derby is approaching. He spoke to ESPN ahead of the match.

Dalot paused. The question was whether it hurt to watch Manchester City achieve so much success during his eight years at Manchester United, and he took a moment before responding.

"I won't say it doesn't hurt, because it does hurt," he told ESPN. "There were some seasons when we couldn't even compete with them. It's difficult to even talk about it."

This was exactly the kind of success Manchester United enjoyed when Dalot was growing up in Portugal. Born in Braga in March 1999, just months before Ferguson's team won the Treble, he was only 14 when Manchester United last 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 a kid," Dalot said. "They were always winning, always competing, they had the best players in the world, and I want to be part of that too."

Manchester City will visit Old Trafford on Sunday, and if all goes well, Dalot will make his 250th appearance for Manchester United. As one of the longest-serving players at the club alongside Luke Shaw, he is well positioned to explain why Manchester United has been unable to consistently challenge Manchester City over the past decade. The team has been in constant turmoil, which hasn't helped.

Dalot has played under five permanent managers. Including interim managers and caretakers, that number reaches eight. Beyond coaching changes, players have come and gone from the squad, and many expensive signings have failed to meet expectations. Dalot has experienced all of this.

"I can't speak for everyone, but my personal demand is always to think about who I want to be and where I want to go," he said. "When I joined the club, I wasn't thinking about leaving in two or three years. I joined because this is the best place to be. You join a team that has the opportunity to be the biggest club in the world.

"If there are players who can't identify with that during this period, or feel this isn't what they need or want, then I can only wish them well and hope they find it elsewhere."

Dalot admitted he "had struggles" early in his Manchester United career. He waited for his opportunity under Mourinho. Under Solskjaer, he was loaned out to AC Milan. The scrutiny at Old Trafford is intense. This season, the team's defense has already been criticized for conceding six goals against Hull City, Ipswich, and Everton.

Dalot has learned to handle this scrutiny. Now, as one of the veterans in the squad, he also tries to help his teammates manage 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 moment, but it's not as bad as you think. People sometimes misinterpret criticism, and not all criticism is bad. Sometimes it's constructive criticism, and you need to take some responsibility.

"When things go well, it makes you feel like you're one of the best players in the world. You get praised a lot, and then once you hit a setback, you're back at rock bottom.

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

Dalot understands players who struggle under pressure, but insists it's all part of 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 and how much pressure there is, it's hard to understand until you're really here and really feel it. At the same time, I think it's good that you feel these things from the start, because it makes you realize how big this club is.

"For me, having this 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 need to draw on every day."

Manchester United has had a mixed start to the season, with only four points from three Premier League matches. With Manchester City as the next opponent, Dalot knows the importance of winning the derby.

A win in the same fixture last January, which was Carrick's first match in charge after Amorim was sacked, sparked a turnaround that eventually helped the team qualify for the Champions League, a goal that seemed impossible under Amorim.

"What I've learned during this period is that these matches can change an entire season," Dalot said. "Last year was an example; we were in very poor form, but playing against Manchester City gives you confidence and allows you to go on a winning run.

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

Besides Liverpool, perhaps no other match makes Manchester United fans want a win more. Dalot says the fans never hide their feelings.

"It happens a lot," he said with a smile. "Several times fans have told me the only thing they want this season is to beat Liverpool or Manchester City. But that just shows how important it is to the fans to see this club get the better of other teams and beat its rivals."

While derby wins are sweet, Dalot's ambitions are even bigger.

Manchester United's rebuilding goal is to challenge for the Premier League title by 2028, the club's 150th anniversary. Dalot admits he will only consider his time at Manchester a complete success if he wins the biggest trophies.

"For me, it's about winning the Premier League, winning the Champions League," Dalot said. "If you look at my time here, there hasn't been a single occasion when we were really involved in a Premier League title race, where in May, in the final matches, we were 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 reach that stage, I think something special will form around the club. What motivates me most is doing my best to be part of that, and hopefully, finally, reaching that moment."

Traducido por IA.

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