Eight-Year Red Devil Veteran Dalot: Man City's Glory Cuts Deep, Vows to Personally Drag Manchester United Back onto the Title Path

Diogo Dalot took a deep breath, paused for a moment, before addressing the question of whether eight years at Manchester United, watching cross-city rivals Manchester City achieve glory, has been painful.

"It's definitely painful, I won't deny it," he told foreign media. "Some seasons we didn't even have a say in competing with Man City. It really hurts to say that."

Of course, Dalot has had his own shining moments. He won the League Cup with United in 2023 and defeated Man City in the 2024 FA Cup Final to become a champion. However, since joining United's youth system from Porto in 2018, he's watched trophies pile up on the Man City side: five Premier League titles, three FA Cups, four League Cups, and a Champions League trophy.

That kind of dominance is exactly what Dalot knew United to be when he was growing up in Portugal. Born in Braga in March 1999, Sir Alex Ferguson's Treble had been completed just months before; United's last top-flight title—also their 20th—came when he was just 14.

"I want to be one of the people who brings United back to the top, because that's the United I've seen my whole life," Dalot said. "They were always winning, always competing, had the best players in the world. I wanted to be part of that."

Man City travel to Old Trafford on Sunday local time. If all goes well, Dalot will make his 250th appearance for United. He is the second-longest-serving player in the squad, behind only Luke Shaw, making him particularly well-placed to discuss why United have struggled to consistently challenge Man City over the past decade. Persistent turbulence is one of the culprits.

Dalot has already worked under five permanent managers, and eight if temporary caretaker appointments are included. Beyond the frequent changes on the coaching staff, players have also come and gone, and many big-name signings failed to meet expectations. He's seen it all.

"I can't speak for others, but for myself, I think about what I want to achieve and where I want to go," he said. "When I signed for this club, I never thought I'd leave after two or three years. I chose here because it's the best place to be. You join a team that has the chance to be the biggest club in the world."

"If there are players during this period who don't believe that, or feel this isn't where they need or want to be, then I can only wish them luck and let them go elsewhere to pursue their goals."

Dalot admits he did struggle early in his United career. He waited for opportunities under Mourinho and was loaned to AC Milan during the Solskjaer era. The spotlight at Old Trafford is suffocatingly intense. This season, the defence conceded six goals in matches against Hull City, Ipswich, and Everton, attracting considerable criticism.

Dalot has learned to face the scrutiny. As a senior player, he works hard to help teammates bear the weight of the shirt.

"When I first arrived, some long-serving players helped me understand all of this," he said. "Sometimes you're going through a low point, but reality isn't as bad as you think. Sometimes people misinterpret criticism—not all criticism is bad. Some is constructive, and you need to take some responsibility."

"When everything goes well, you think you're one of the best in the world. You get carried away, then hit a setback, and you're back at the bottom."

"I think after being here so long, I have a responsibility to help players understand: things aren't always as bad as they think, and sometimes not as good either. That is absolutely part of my role now."

Dalot understands players struggling under pressure, but he insists it's an inevitable part of playing for Manchester United.

"I think it's not easy," he said. "Unless you understand what it means to play for a club of this stature and the pressure that comes with it, it's hard to grasp until you actually arrive and feel it. At the same time, I think feeling that pressure from the start is actually a good thing, because it makes you appreciate the weight of this club."

"For me, feeling this pressure is a privilege, because it means you're playing for such a great club at such a high competitive level. I think that's exactly where our motivation comes from day to day."

United's start to the season has been mixed, with four points from their first three league matches. Facing the upcoming Man City fixture, Dalot knows how important a derby win can be. A January win in the same competition—Michael Carrick's first match in charge after Ruben Amorim was sacked—sparked an upturn that ultimately secured Champions League qualification. Under Amorim, that qualification had at one point seemed out of reach.

"What I've learned here is that this kind of match can change the trajectory of an entire season," Dalot said. "Last year is the example—we were genuinely in poor form, but the game against Man City gave us confidence and started a winning streak."

"This season we haven't picked up the points we perhaps should have and really wanted, but this kind of match can ignite a spark, make you feel you can genuinely go out and give it everything. Right now, there's no match I'd rather play more than this one."

Perhaps apart from Liverpool, no match is desired more by United fans to win. And according to Dalot, fans are never afraid to let the players know that.

"It happens a lot," he said with a laugh. "There have been times when fans told me the only thing they ask for all season is to beat Liverpool or beat Man City. But that's exactly how much the fans care—they want to feel this club towering above other rivals, beating its arch-enemies."

While a derby victory would be sweet, Dalot harbours bigger ambitions. United's rebuild targets a Premier League title challenge by 2028, the club's 150th anniversary. He admits only lifting the biggest trophies will make his time in Manchester a complete success.

"For me, it's winning the Premier League and the Champions League," Dalot said. "Look at my time here—there has never been a single occasion where we were genuinely in the Premier League title race—going into May, still in contention in the final rounds."

"Being part of the project that brings this club back into title contention will probably be the biggest achievement of my life. Because honestly, that's where this club belongs."

"I know if we can get close to that stage, I believe we'll create a certain aura around the club. That's what motivates me the most—to do my part and be one of them, and hopefully be there to witness that moment."