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Friday 04 April 2025 10:00
Diogo Dalot admits Manchester United’s supporters will be expecting the team to produce something special in Sunday’s derby with City.
After beating the Blues in the reverse fixture, 2-1 in December, there is the chance to do the double over our neighbours and hamper their bid to get into next season’s Champions League.
It is a long time since the Old Trafford faithful have seen their favourites in action, as our last outing on home turf was on 13 March, when Real Sociedad were put to the sword, 4-1 in the Europa League.
Our previous Premier League assignment at the Theatre of Dreams was the 1-1 draw with Arsenal on 9 March, almost a month ago by the time Sunday’s 16:30 BST kick-off comes around.
In an exclusive interview with United Review, the official matchday programme, Dalot was in no doubt that the fans will expect a performance befitting the occasion, and showing the grit and determination required to come out on top on derby day.
“There’s the history, the rivalry,” he said of the fixture. “I would say it’s a game that everybody wants to watch, and everybody wants to play in. That makes it special. So we’re looking forward to a big game in our stadium, with a big atmosphere.
“For this game against City, we have to recover well because the games are coming fast. But, at the same time, we’re going to play one of the best games that you can play in the Premier League, so that has to give you a little extra when you come on to the pitch.
“Sometimes, no matter the form, no matter the previous results, when you go to a derby, or a game like this, anything can happen. And I think every United fan that comes to Old Trafford on Sunday will expect that something special can happen, and they can see a good game. We have to give everything we can to give that performance. But, in the end, we want to win. That’s our focus.”
Even though it has been a disappointing season for both Manchester clubs, there is still the prospect that both could end up with more silverware, with United in the last eight of the Europa League and soon-to-be deposed champions City facing an Emirates FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest at Wembley.
Yet all the focus, for the two camps, will squarely be on this weekend’s local affair, despite the challenges that lie on the horizon.
“Every game that you play against the big teams, and European nights, are always special, but when you play City, Liverpool, I think the atmosphere… you can feel it,” enthused Dalot. “It’s a little bit different, for the better, so I’m expecting exactly the same on Sunday.
“When the stadium is like that when the fans are with us, it gives us an extra boost. Like I said, these are almost like one-off games. You know that to win these type of games, you have to be in your best form, best shape, mentally and physically.
“So, on Sunday, it will be one more of these games. Obviously, we want to win. We want to do it in a controlled way and we want to do what we can to plan for the game. But in games like this, everything can happen. So we have to be prepared for any scenario and at the same time, go to the pitch really confident.”
There has been one constant during the frustrating campaign for the Reds, the backing of our loyal supporters.
That is certain to be the case when the action kicks off this weekend, with optimism still high that Amorim’s methods are starting to work.
“I think the fans are the most consistent thing about this club,” admitted our wing-back. “The way they support the club, they support us, the staff, the manager. So that we can expect. Obviously, we have to give them something back and, hopefully, it’s a win.”
Read the extended interview with Diogo Dalot only in Sunday’s United Review, the official matchday programme.
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Friday 04 April 2025 10:00
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