Manchester United defender Diogo Delot has suggested that the tactical change under Michael Carrick has not been as dramatic as it might appear from the outside.
The Portugal international is now in his fifth season at Old Trafford and has quietly become one of the most experienced figures in the squad. Of the current players, only Luke Shaw has been at the club for a longer period.
As a result, Dalot sees himself as the man responsible for helping new players settle into the dressing room. He explained that his role has evolved naturally over time.
“I enjoy having that responsibility,” he told DAZN Portugal. “What I try to do every day is represent the club’s values as best I can. The behavior and attitude I show daily are very important to me because I know I can set an example.”
Dalot arrived at Manchester United as a teenager from FC Porto in 2018. At that time he was seen as a promising young full-back. Today he finds himself among the senior people in the dressing room.
Still, he insists he doesn’t feel old.
“I still consider myself young” Dalot accepted. “But the reality is that I joined the club so early now that it brings more responsibility. New players come in all the time and I try to help them feel comfortable. At the same time, they need to understand the reality of the club.”
And reflecting further on his journey, Dalot also admitted that his career path has gone far beyond the expectations he had when he first started playing.
“Obviously when you start playing football you only think about the passion for the game. You don’t think much about what happens next,” he explained. “In the early stages I could never have imagined playing for FC Porto, let alone becoming the second longest-serving player at Manchester United.”
Carrick’s system compared to that of Reuben Amorim
Dalot also addressed the tactical changes since Michael Carrick took charge, particularly compared to the ideas previously implemented by Ruben Amorim.
From the outside, Carrick’s approach has been seen as a marked departure from the structure of the Amorim. However, Dalot believes the differences are smaller than many people assume.
“If you analyze it closely, things are not much different from what we were doing with Ruben.” he explained.
With the ball, teams still make plays using three players in the first phase. Without the ball the shape changes slightly. Instead of operating with three centre-backs, United now defend with two central defenders and a full-back in the back four.
Nevertheless, the defensive line often becomes a back five. When needed a winger drops deep to track the opposing full-back.
“If you look at the game pieces individually, you don’t see that many differences,” Dalot said. “The biggest difference is the profile of the player. “Now we play with one less defender and one more attacking player.”
Still, the defense says the basics remain the same. But he admits the mindset has changed – and it’s had an impact.
“As I say many times, at the end of the day what really matters is the result,” He added. “When the confidence is high, we have the quality of players, sometimes you don’t need to say much and the players go out on the field and perform well.”
Role change and attack on responsibilities
Dalot also reflected on how his role has changed recently. He has occasionally been used in a more advanced position on the wing.
He believes that experience has expanded his understanding of the offensive game.
“When you play as a winger and get the ball, you have options to go against the one, attack the line, play backwards or find the number ten.” he explained.
Playing deeper as a right-back changes the perspective. From that position, Dalot faces the entire pitch and can distribute the ball in multiple directions.
Despite enjoying the challenge of adapting, he admits the full-back role remains where he feels most comfortable. “It feels like I’m going back to my roots,” He said.
Versatility has still been valuable. According to Dalot, the ability to play different roles has helped him become a more complete player and has increased his tactical understanding of the game.
“When I get those opportunities, I try to make the most of them because I know they’ll make me even more versatile.”he explained.
Helping Cesco settle into Old Trafford
Dalot also spoke about his relationship with striker Benjamin Cesco and described their connection as instant.
He explained that he tried to support the young forward as he adjusted to the pressures of life at Manchester United.
“We got along well from the beginning,” Dalot said. “I felt a responsibility to help it understand the context it’s in. Sometimes too much water can kill the plant.”
For Dalot, the main message for Sesco is simple – focus on doing the right thing consistently rather than trying to do everything at once.
“If you combine his qualities off the pitch with his qualities on the field, I believe he will be one of the best strikers in the world.” He concluded.
Dalot’s comments also highlight how his role has evolved within the team. The Portuguese defender is no longer just a full-back fighting for minutes. Instead, he has become one of the players helping to drive the culture inside the dressing room.
As the team continues to evolve around him, his impact could be just as important as his performances on the pitch.
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