Diogo Dalot has issued a rallying cry to his Manchester United teammates, insisting the squad must become "more obsessed" with winning games and trophies for the club. The defender's passionate plea comes after a deflating 1-1 draw with West Ham United at Old Trafford, a result met with audible boos from the home support.
Frustration After West Ham Stalemate
The mood at Old Trafford turned sour on Thursday evening as United laboured to a draw against a West Ham side sitting 18th in the Premier League table. The result was a significant setback for Ruben Amorim's team, who had appeared to be building momentum with a promising five-match unbeaten run earlier in the campaign.
However, a shock 1-0 defeat to 10-man Everton and this latest stalemate have darkened the atmosphere. Dalot, who scored United's goal against the Hammers, did not hide his frustration in the aftermath, pinpointing a lack of inner drive as a key issue.
Dalot's Call for Inner Fire
"I think we need to become a bit more obsessed about playing for this club, winning games and winning trophies for this club," the long-serving wing-back stated. He emphasised that the solution is not always about technical ability, but often about mentality.
"Sometimes, it’s not football qualities. It has to be from inside," Dalot explained. "It has to be from the anger and the drive that you have every day to win football games." While acknowledging improvement is a process, he rejected the notion that the team needs more time, bluntly stating that the club's stature demands immediate results.
"I’m not going to get into the ‘we need time’ thing. I think we have to win straight away because that’s what the club demands," he said, adding that missing opportunities like the West Ham game is particularly painful.
Amorim's Demands and Wolves Test
Manager Ruben Amorim shared his exasperation after the match, delivering a frank assessment to his players in a debrief the following day. The focus now swiftly turns to Monday night's Premier League trip to face a winless Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.
Dalot, likely to make a third consecutive start, is acutely aware of the standards demanded by his meticulous manager. Amorim recently singled out Dalot and fellow defender Patrick Dorgu for criticism, stating "they are far from the best and they know it."
Responding to those comments, Dalot took a team-first perspective. "I think it’s something in general," he said. "He could be talking about me but I think he could be talking about everyone at the club. We always have to find ways to improve ourselves, be more consistent."
He framed this pressure as an inherent part of life at a club of United's magnitude, a challenge he is now experienced enough to understand and embrace as the Red Devils seek to reignite their season.
