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Diogo Dalot may not have been in the match day team on Tuesday night, but he was there to see United beat the Young Boys at Old Trafford. Wearing a baseball cap and a club jacket, the 19-year-old has introduced himself as a fan to support his teammates.
Few would have blamed Dalot for staying home after not being summoned to the Hilton for the pre-game meal and the team meeting before the match. Indeed, Dalot has not formed a match-match team since September.
This seemed to be the perfect opportunity to reintroduce the Portuguese into the fold after being injured on an international mission earlier this month. Dalot was impressed during his debut against the Young Boys in Bern in September and has only been used in cup competitions this season.
But Mourinho decided not to do it and chose a team capable of bearing "a little pressure". This was reminiscent of the skipper Antonio Valencia, who had not played since October 2, and Mourinho surrounded himself with experienced players in the Premier League during the most turbulent period of his reign.
Fred and Dalot made only nine starts combined, following their big wins this summer. Mourinho again showed patience towards players from another league, as was the case with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Victor Lindelof.
United's plan with Dalot has always been to calm him down and it's good to remember that the teenager only played eight first-team appearances with Porto before finishing his £ 19.5m transfer. this summer.
After undergoing a knee surgery in May, United also intentionally slowed Dalot's rehab. The club is especially patient with young players when they come back from an injury. Tahith Chong, who is nine months younger than Dalot, has spent nearly a year on the sidelines.
Dalot only had crutches in July and has not thrown the ball before the last days of United's US pre-season tour before making his reserve debut in September. Tellingly, Mourinho watched this match against Stoke himself.
Mourinho played a crucial role in the transfer of Dalot to Old Trafford, persuading him to hide the interest of 13 other clubs. United was so enthusiastic that they paid more than its 17.5 million pound release clause before it became active on June 30th.
Manchester United in numbers – November 29
Mourinho thinks that United has managed to retain the man who can be their right for a decade. Although the club has had a difficult time, Dalot has always enjoyed working with his countryman and enjoys living in Manchester.
Tellingly, he has not been demoted to the reserve to allow himself a bit of match time over the last few weeks and there should be opportunities ahead, whether against Valencia next month or the third round of the FA Cup New Year.
Do not bet against Dalot taking his chance then.
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