This weekend, as Manchester United prepares for the Manchester derby in the Premier League, Dalot is set to make his 250th appearance for Manchester United. Ahead of this milestone, 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 responsibility in helping younger players, the advantages of having Carrick as manager, the Manchester derby, and how to help Manchester United return to glory. Below is the second part of the exclusive interview.

Related Reading:

【Dalot: I Haven't Really Been in a Premier League Title Race Yet; I'm Eager to Be Part of Manchester United's Return to Glory】

【Dalot: Before the Derby, I Barely Contact My Portuguese Teammates at Manchester City; We'll Talk About the Match at Training Camp】

When you talk about "helping others," do you feel that as a member of the leadership group, it's now your responsibility? Young players often focus only on themselves when they arrive, trying to adapt to the environment. Now that you have more experience, when new signings arrive, do you feel obligated to tell them: "This is how we do things at Manchester United"?

It has to be that way. Looking back at my early days, there were some older teammates who had been with the club for a long time, and they guided and helped me a lot, allowing me to understand certain truths—for example, sometimes when you're going through a difficult period, things aren't as bad as you imagine; and sometimes when things feel good, you actually need to maintain a sense of urgency and crisis. People often misinterpret criticism; criticism isn't always negative, it's often constructive feedback, and you have to proactively take responsibility and own your role. You can never adopt an attitude of "I don't read any news" or "I don't care what people say."

Sometimes you have to care, because that concern translates into motivation and a sense of responsibility that makes you better. The key is to understand and find balance: discern which advice truly benefits you and understand how to become a better player. Similarly, when the team is doing well, the outside world will praise you to the skies, making you feel like one of the best in the world, but that often isn't enough to maintain your focus throughout an entire season. If you let yourself get too carried away and then hit a setback, you'll fall hard. Having been at Manchester United for so long, I believe it's my responsibility to help my teammates see reality, to make them understand that sometimes things aren't as bad as they imagine, but sometimes they're never as perfect either. So yes, I definitely think this is one of my main roles now, and I'm very happy to take on this responsibility.

Michael Carrick seems to be very good at maintaining that mental balance, never too euphoric or too defeated, especially when dealing with media interviews; he never loses his composure. Have you felt that from him?

Absolutely, I think that's one of his most remarkable qualities. Although I didn't have the chance to play alongside him as a teammate—he was already an assistant coach when I arrived—I can absolutely imagine him being just as composed as a player. To establish yourself at Manchester United for many years, you need to possess this extremely calm and stable style of play and character. It's one of his greatest strengths. As a Manchester United legend, he knows exactly what it means to travel to Leeds, to Anfield, and he understands the magnitude of hosting Manchester City. This deep experience, both as a player and as a coach, gives him an enormous advantage. He can therefore always transmit the right energy to us in critical moments, keeping us in the right mindset; but at the same time, when things aren't going well, he will definitely make us feel that sharp pain and sense of urgency deeply.

On Sunday, you'll host Manchester City in a crucial match. You've also expressed your desire for greater achievements. Is it particularly difficult to play for Manchester United during such a successful period for your city rivals?

Yes, I would never sugarcoat it by saying it doesn't hurt, because the reality is indeed harsh. Especially in these direct confrontations. There was a time, certain seasons, when we couldn't even compete with them at all. It's heartbreaking to admit, because as a club with such a rich heritage as Manchester United, every time we step on the pitch, we should inherently carry the spirit of victory and determination.

The good news is that things have changed in recent years, and now you can genuinely feel that in any match, as long as we play at a high level and maintain the right mindset, we are fully capable of competing with any opponent. It's the most wonderful feeling a Manchester United player can have, because you want to step on the pitch and prove to the world that you're defending such a great club.

One thing I've learned during this period is that such intense confrontations can change, even save, an entire season. Last season is a striking example; our situation wasn't ideal, but after beating Manchester City, the team's morale exploded, and we then went on a winning run. Although this season we've dropped points we should have taken and haven't met expectations, these big matches can ignite a spark and make us believe that the team can display the fighting spirit and quality it should have. So I don't think there's a match we're more eager to fight for right now than this derby.

As you approach this big match, what does it feel like to be a Manchester United player in Manchester? Do fans stop you in the street and say: "You must win on Sunday, please"? Is that the mood across the whole city?

Yes, it happens frequently. I've experienced similar situations many times; sometimes the greatest wish some fans have for the entire season is that we beat Liverpool, or that we beat Manchester City. That shows precisely how crucial it is for the fans to see the club defeat its rivals and return to glory. But we know deep down that to compete for the Premier League title, you have to win against almost every opponent. However, everything starts with these big matchups; we need to show our title rivals that Manchester United will absolutely be in the fight. Participating in such matches is always thrilling, and the atmosphere at the stadium is unmatched, especially at Old Trafford, where the fans always inspire infinite possibilities—that's the charm and magic of this club.

Traduit par IA.

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