Diogo Dalot welcomes healthy competition for the right-back spot for Manchester United.
Erik ten Hag had plans to sign a new right-back in the summer, but a move never materialised. Manchester United prioritised other positions and could spending the coming months revaluating their options in the position.
Especially if the Portugal international continues to impress at Ten Hag, who sees his full-backs as integral to his system, so it would be silly to downplay how good Dalot and Tyrell Malacia have been in recent weeks.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 24, lost his status as a first team regular after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was replaced by Ralf Rangnick.
The former Crystal Palace academy graduate is still behind Dalot in the pecking order and isn’t the typical full-back you would see Ten Hag opt for due to his limitations in the final third.
Speaking to reporters ahead of the Europa League clash with Real Sociedad, Dalot said (via Manchester Evening News): “When you have good competition, I like to call it health competition. You can see this season we have very good players in each position, which makes us better as a team. We have a lot to learn together, we have a good squad.”
United also decided to send young right-back Ethan Laird on loan to Championship side Queens Park Rangers, which raised a few eyebrows because the youngster is better suited to the team than Wan-Bissaka.
Dalot has started every match for United this season and only missed four minutes of action when he was substituted against Liverpool last month. He’s not the best option in the league by any means, but he is young enough to grow into the position.
Let us know in the comments section if you think Dalot has enough competition at United? We actually think it is something that could be addressed in January.
