Diogo Dalot insists that one setback, no matter how bad it was against Aston Villa, will not cause a change in “mentality” at Manchester United.
Prior to visiting Villa Park, the Red Devils had been making good progress under Erik ten Hag, with a nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions. That came to a halt against a Villans side playing their first game under ex-Arsenal manager Unai Emery, but Dalot sees no reason for the top-four hopefuls to rip up their tactical approach and start again.
“Obviously, it is a step back, and we must take it as a lesson and try to do better in the next games.” We knew it was going to be a difficult game, but we didn’t get off to the right start, losing the first 10 minutes and the opening five minutes of the second half. It was, I believe, decisive for them. And it teaches us a lesson for the upcoming games. We need to start faster and better, and we’re unhappy because we expected to win.”
The defeat to Villa stopped United from catching fourth-placed Tottenham in the Premier League rankings, with Ten Hag’s team currently sitting outside of the Champions League chase pack.
United have lost nine away games in the Premier League in 2022 – they most defeats they’ve suffered in a calendar year since 1989 (12).
The Red Devils will face Villa again in their next outing, a Carabao Cup third round clash on Thursday, before then heading to Fulham for their final Premier League fixture before domestic action shuts down and attention turns to the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar.
