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Thursday 13 March 2025 12:00
Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot has shared the secrets to his remarkable – and invaluable – availability after proudly reaching the milestone of 200 Reds appearances.
So far this season, the Portuguese full-back has featured in 43 of 44 fixtures across all competitions, thanks to his self-described “obsessive” approach to preparation and recovery. It was a similar story in the 2023/24 campaign as well: Dalot appeared in 50 of 52 matches in total, with only goalkeeper Andre Onana bettering his record with 51 outings.
In an era when players are challenged by relentless schedules and more physically demanding games, availability and consistency are priceless attributes to have – which Diogo understands. “I think in top football, especially in today’s game, availability is something that is becoming much more important than probably a few years ago,” he told us ahead of tonight’s match against Real Sociedad.
Diogo is proud to have reached 200 appearances for Manchester United.
“Football is getting a lot more physical, schedules are getting bigger all the time so the amount of games that top clubs have nowadays is really big, so availability is something that I became a little bit obsessed about, which I think made me a better professional and a better athlete as well.
“Ultimately, you become an option for the manager. Then, the probability of you being able to play is a lot higher when the availability is there, so I try to combine that with performance on the pitch. Ultimately, what you do on the pitch will resolve everything, but the availability for me became my first big priority, to be able to play a lot of games for this club.
“Everything that I do when I wake up is to try to be at my best mentally and physically to help the team. Then, on the pitch, it is a game and everything can happen. I always try to give my best, that is common in every game, but ultimately what you do outside of the pitch will try to define if you are able to play for this club or not. Competition for places is high, the quality is really high, so it is a tough place to play but it is the type of place that I love.”
Expanding on his dedication to being a top professional and athlete, Diogo continues: “I think it is massive in my opinion, but every player is different, this is very individual. What can provide results for me might not provide results for you.
“But what I try to pass to my team-mates when they sometimes ask for advice is that, as a football player and an athlete, you need to build this… I am not saying for you to be obsessive about it, but this consciousness, you need to be in the best shape possible, physically and mentally, to be able to play at this level. That is the first step to succeed.
“We know how to play football, we know the quality is there. If you are playing for Manchester United, it is because you have a lot of football qualities. But the rest, the unseen part, I think it is almost as important as that because ultimately it is going to define if you are going to play X amount of games for a club like this.”
Diogo Dalot | My Matchday Video
Diogo Dalot | My Matchday
MY MATCHDAY | We ride with Diogo Dalot from Carrington to Old Trafford, to uncover his pre-game routines and habits…
Reflecting on his achievement of 200 appearances, Dalot said: “I am extremely proud to be honest, it is something that is a really great milestone for me as an individual and for my career. To be able to play that amount of games for such a big club is something that is hard to explain in words. It has been a tough journey to be able to play that amount of games, but at the same time a really good one that I have tried to enjoy and hopefully it is one that I can continue.
“I think it has been really progressive, as I like things to be in my life. Obviously it started a bit bumpy in the beginning, I was still very young and also trying to get to know my body, trying to develop as a player, but I think as soon as I started to find the consistency, getting more opportunities to play, it has been a really good journey. I remember the times that I played two games in a row, then I was really happy to play five games, 10 games, so little milestones through my journey. I have reached, now, a very good number and it is something I am proud of.”
STATS ZONE
Let’s look at the numbers behind Dalot’s 200 United appearances…
This season’s top appearance makers:
Diogo Dalot = 43
Alejandro Garnacho = 43
Bruno Fernandes = 42
Noussair Mazraoui = 42
Joshua Zirkzee = 42
Opposition breakdown:
Liverpool = 11
Brighton & Hove Albion = 11
Arsenal = 10
Tottenham Hotspur = 9
Newcastle United = 9
Managers:
Erik ten Hag = 106
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer = 36
Ruben Amorim = 25
Ralf Rangnick = 22
Jose Mourinho = 6
Ruud van Nistelrooy = 4
Michael Carrick = 1
Competition:
Premier League = 133
Europa League = 22
FA Cup = 20
Champions League = 13
Carabao Cup = 11
Community Shield = 1
Team-mates:
Bruno Fernandes = 155
Marcus Rashford = 145
Scott McTominay = 112
Victor Lindelof = 108
Harry Maguire = 106
Get ready for United v Real Sociedad:
Thursday 13 March 2025 12:00
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