Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot has admitted that Ruben Amorim’s scathing remarks motivated him and his teammates to produce a valiant effort against Liverpool on Sunday.
United headed to Anfield on a run of four straight defeats and many expected them to be obliterated by the table leaders.
However, the Red Devils were brilliant, earning a hard-fought 2-2 draw. United’s goals were grabbed by Lisandro Martinez and Amad Diallo.
The visitors nearly won it right at the death after Joshua Zirkzee set up Harry Maguire but the England international aimed his shot over the bar.
Dalot was one of United’s best performers in the left-wing-back position, from where he gave Trent Alexander-Arnold a horrible time.
After the match, Dalot spoke to reporters and admitted that the players were motivated to get a result after criticism from Amorim.
Indeed, before the match, Amorim claimed that the team was starving of leaders. The United head coach also said that his players were “anxious” and “afraid” heading into the Liverpool match.
Dalot remarked [via ESPN] when asked about Amorim’s comments, “It pinched me. I think that’s what he wanted for every player.”
“I’ve been here for a while. I know that I can step up a little bit more as well in that level and I’m going to try to help my teammates for as long as I can. You could see that we were more of a team, that was the biggest difference.”
“I think that’s what we need to build more, a proper team, fighting for the badge and then the result I think will come.”
On having more time on the training ground, Dalot insisted, “It’s time on the pitch, know what everybody wants to do, almost like trusting ourselves that everybody will be in the right position to play in every aspect of the game in every inch of the pitch.”
“So I think that’s it. When you have time to know what to do, I think it becomes more natural. And you saw the structure much more compact, probably a bit more playing almost like we knew that this player would be in that position.”
When asked how long it will take before United manage to sustain a run of consistently top performances, Dalot replied, “I think that’s the million dollar question for everybody but even for us we just have to, I think it’s the cliche answer, but we have to be game by game to be honest.”
“There’s no point in thinking too much ahead because we don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. What we know is what we can control tomorrow.”
Up next for United is an FA Cup third-round clash against Arsenal on Sunday.
Feature image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
