What was he doing out of his position. He is the main reason they scored the second and third goals which is actually criminal for a defender of his caliber. He was not playing like a professional footballer despite the amount of years he has played football.” – This is according to A MUTV pundit and former player Danny Simpson as he has criticized a Manchester United defender, calling his role in Tottenham’s goal at Old Trafford “criminal.” He was a complete disgrace yesterday 😳💔 It will be best if he doesn’t play for us anymore 😭 💔
Manchester United delivered a poor performance in their defeat to Tottenham at Old Trafford, with a dismal showing from start to finish. The first goal perfectly highlighted their defensive struggles, as a Tottenham player ran 70 yards without being challenged, sent in a low cross, and found a winger in acres of space to tap the ball into the net. It was a moment that encapsulated United’s disastrous evening.
Erik ten Hag’s side failed to improve throughout the game, ultimately losing 3-0, and the scoreline could have been even worse given their lackluster display.
**Criticism of Diogo Dalot**
Diogo Dalot came under significant scrutiny for his role in Tottenham’s first goal, particularly for failing to mark Brennan Johnson properly. Former United defender Danny Simpson, while speaking on MUTV, voiced his frustration, pointing the finger at Dalot for not covering his defensive area.
“When the cross came in, the amount of space Brennan Johnson had was shocking. That’s Dalot’s responsibility. Whether he’s playing as an inverted full-back or not, he has to track back,” said Simpson. “Conceding so early was a disaster, and the build-up to the goal was simply poor.”
**Defensive Failings**
Simpson further emphasized United’s overall defensive issues, urging for quicker reactions and better positioning across the pitch. He added that Ugarte could have responded sooner, but it was already too late by the time he reacted. Simpson also noted that Dalot raising his hands in apology didn’t excuse the defensive lapses at this level of football.
On Sky Sports, Jamie Redknapp echoed Simpson’s criticism, saying, “It was poor from Dalot. As a left-back, he should be tracking that run, but instead, he’s jogging. It’s just not good enough.”
**Dalot’s Role in the Third Goal**
Tottenham piled on the misery for United in the second half, especially after Bruno Fernandes’ red card, as they added two more goals. Dalot was again criticized for his slow reaction during the third goal, allowing Dominic Solanke to score from a corner.
With injuries sidelining Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, Dalot has been filling in at left-back, and while he had shown some promise in previous games, this particular match exposed his weaknesses.
Dalot’s performance against Tottenham was widely criticized, with his defensive mistakes playing a pivotal role in United’s 3-0 loss. The absence of key defenders has left United vulnerable, and Dalot’s positioning and response times were glaring issues, with analysts like Danny Simpson and Jamie Redknapp calling for significant improvement in his defensive duties.
