Diogo Dalot opens up on relationship with Erik ten Hag and sets Manchester United challenge

Diogo Dalot has lifted the lid on his relationship with Erik ten Hag and how he believes forging a path into the Manchester United first team is the biggest achievement of his young career.

The 24-year-old has made 133 appearances since signing for United from FC Porto in 2018 but 68 of them have come in the 18 months since Erik ten Hag took charge. The Portugal international has largely been first choice at right-back while also filling in on the left when needed.

And after a slow start to his United career, which saw a loan spell at Italian side AC Milan and reports that he could be shown the door at Old Trafford, Dalot takes pride in his rise from the fringes to the first team.

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"I look at my career as small wins," Dalot said, speaking to TNT Sports' Sign Up - Into Football programme."Sometimes you can just think only about winning trophies or achievements with the team but for me it has been small things, the way I stayed and fought at this club to get a position in the team.

"That has been the biggest achievement so far. And collectively, we are here to win trophies and competitions and last season we did and that was very special."

Dalot attributes his rise under Ten Hag to a shared philosophy and a positive relationship between the pair. It's something the defender thinks is true of others in the squad too.

He added: "Sometimes you just click with managers or players. I think as soon as he came that happened. The way that he sees football and the full-back position suits really well to what I see and what I like. It was a good match, with me and with other players."

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