Diogo Dalot praises Erik ten Hag for important Man United decision this season

Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot has praised Erik ten Hag for giving opportunities to several youngsters this season.

In what has been a poor Premier League season for United, the overwhelming positive has been the performances of Rasmus Hojlund, Alejandro Garnacho, and Kobbie Mainoo.

Hojlund, 21, has impressed since arriving from Serie A side Atalanta, cementing himself as United’s top goal scorer with 13 goals in all competitions.

Meanwhile, Mainoo, 18, and Garnacho, 19, are stellar examples of the pathway through the ranks of United’s academy into a regular first-team position.

Players such as Ryan Giggs, Sir Bobby Charlton, and Gary Neville, are just some of the names who have undertaken that same path, and it is something United have become famous for.

Ten Hag’s choice to continue that tradition is something that has brought the approval of several squad members, including Dalot who remarked as much in a recent interview.

“I think it’s what this club is about,” Dalot told Goal. “Bringing through people from the academy and trying to make these long-term signings where you can develop and become great football players at the club. This is just a little showcase of what we can have in the future.

“Obviously, in football, you don’t take anything for granted, one year you can be the best, in the other year, you can disappear”

“We are talking about these three players [Garnacho, Hojlund, Mainoo], but we have a few more in the club that are very well guided and had a lot of support during their journey when they were kids.

“When I signed, I was 19. I was their age and I felt it then. It’s a tough world, a tough club to be at, but you have to be structured mentally and really well prepared for the biggest stage.”

With United unbeaten in 2024, Ten Hag’s squad have begun to overturn their poor start to the season, climbing up the Premier League table.

If United are to continue this unbeaten run this weekend then they will need to beat a Fulham side who have just one win in their last eight games in all competitions.