Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has publicly backed Diogo Dalot after the full-back came under pressure to lose his starting place, according to Goal.com. The calls followed Sunday's 4-4 draw with Aston Villa at Old Trafford, where substitute Patrick Dorgu came off the bench to score and assist in stoppage time. Dalot, 27, had a difficult afternoon before he was replaced.
Speaking at his post-match press conference, Carrick was asked whether fan frustration should cost Dalot his place in the side. The manager declined to single out the Portugal defender, saying he understood the mood around the club but would not pin the result on one player.
Why it matters
The result leaves United in a difficult position going into the international break. According to Goal.com, the club sits 18th in the table with one win, five draws and four losses from 10 league games. That is United's lowest top-flight placing at this stage of a season since the 1986-87 campaign, when they were 20th. The draw also stretched their winless league run to eight matches, a sequence matched only once before, between April and May 2025.
Carrick now faces a significant selection decision at left-back when domestic football resumes. Dorgu's late impact has intensified the debate, while Dalot's recent performances have drawn scrutiny from supporters and pundits alike.
Dalot's difficult afternoon
Dalot started at left-back and was slow to close down Alysson in the build-up to Villa's opener, which arrived inside the first minute. He then conceded a penalty early in the second half by fouling the same player. The display came days after he was criticised for being caught out of position during Tuesday's 3-2 comeback win over Roma, Goal.com reports.
The match itself was chaotic. Nicolas Jackson doubled Villa's lead in the fourth minute, before Bruno Fernandes and former Villa midfielder Youri Tielemans pulled United level by half-time. John McGinn converted a penalty and Leon Goretzka scored to restore the visitors' two-goal cushion. Dorgu's late contribution then helped United become the first Premier League team to overturn a two-goal deficit twice in the same match, according to Goal.com.
Carrick's defence of his defender
Carrick acknowledged the frustration among supporters but stressed that the players share it. He said Dalot gives everything for the team and has filled in at different positions, including left-back, where he has performed well at times.
The manager accepted that Dalot made a mistake in conceding the penalty and could have done better in that moment. However, he argued that a single error should not define the player's overall contribution. Carrick praised Dalot's commitment and the influence he has on the squad and the culture around it.
He also made clear that picking the team for the next game is a separate matter and a decision he will make in due course. His comments suggest he is not prepared to discard Dalot on the basis of one poor performance, even as the pressure around the club grows.
What to watch
United return to action after the international break, when Carrick must decide whether to keep faith with Dalot or hand Dorgu a starting role at left-back.
