Diogo Dalot is not a wingback and the sooner Ruben Amorim understands this, the better for Man United | OneFootball

Diogo Dalot is not a wingback and the sooner Ruben Amorim understands this, the better for Man United | OneFootball

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The Peoples Person

·22 February 2025

Diogo Dalot is not a wingback and the sooner Ruben Amorim understands this, the better for Man United

Article image:Diogo Dalot is not a wingback and the sooner Ruben Amorim understands this, the better for Man United

Manchester United produced a stunning second-half comeback against Everton to clinch a point from their travel to Goodison Park on Saturday.

The hosts scored twice in the first half and at that point, it seemed like yet another defeat was on the cards with Toffees showing more fight and desire than the lacklustre visitors.


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They won almost all second balls, and looked hungry in the tackle while the Red Devils looked like a deer in the headlights. Ruben Amorim had his head in his hands for most of the opening 45 minutes.

While Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt were also very poor on the day, Diogo Dalot continued to frustrate on the right flank.

Dalot has struggled on both flanks

Initially, Amorim had claimed that the Portugal international’s best place was on the right, which is why he was struggling on the left but those same problems have persisted even on his favoured flank.

The first goal came from his mistake as instead of clearing a dangerous ball into the box, he tried to control it with his thigh and eventually, after his teammates failed to clear, Beto made no mistake to put the Toffees ahead.

His decision-making going forward was just as poor as he continuously passed the ball either backwards or sideways which explains his 91 percent passing accuracy.

Despite playing as a wingback, the Portugal international attempted 0 crosses while Patrick Dorgu on the opposite flank tried as many as four crosses into the box.

The Dane was not afraid to take his man on and drive into the box while Dalot was content to just pass it to someone else. He also had 0 shots and completed 0 dribbles.

Amorim needs reinforcements on the right

A wingback’s role in Amorim’s system is to stay wide and try and attack the space but the 25-year-old is simply a full-back who is neither very good in defence, nor great going forwards.

He won only one duel out of six and committed two fouls while losing possession 10 times. He was the lowest-rated defender out of the five on the pitch earning a 6.5 on Sofascore.

Amorim must be desperately waiting for the summer window and like Dorgu has instantly improved the left, he must be crying out for someone like Geovany Quenda to transform the right flank.

At least the head coach did not suffer yet another defeat in the league and he has skipper Bruno Fernandes to thank for that.

Feature image Matt McNulty via Getty Images


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