Manchester United fans have been left outraged and disappointed, directing much of their frustration towards one of their own players, Diogo Dalot, after new footage emerged from their humiliating 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Under the leadership of Erik ten Hag, the Red Devils endured another dismal performance at Old Trafford, suffering defeat courtesy of goals from Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski, and Dominic Solanke. The match took a further turn for the worse when captain Bruno Fernandes was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge on James Maddison, leaving United to battle through the second half with only 10 men.
However, it wasn’t just the result that left a sour taste in the mouths of Manchester United supporters. The fanbase’s anger and disappointment were particularly focused on Dalot’s role in Spurs’ opening goal, which bore a striking resemblance to a defensive lapse they had witnessed not long ago in their 1-1 Europa League draw with FC Twente. In that game, like this one, Dalot appeared to be in a strong position to neutralize the danger but failed to take decisive action, allowing the opposition to capitalize.
In the footage leading up to Johnson’s goal, Dalot was seen marking the Spurs forward as he approached the penalty area. Despite being in a position to prevent the goal, Dalot seemed to slow down as they neared the 18-yard box, effectively giving Johnson a free run toward goal. Johnson made no mistake, taking advantage of Dalot’s hesitation to tap the ball past Manchester United’s goalkeeper, Andre Onana. It was this lack of urgency and what appeared to be a casual approach from Dalot that enraged fans.
Social media quickly became a battleground for frustrated supporters, many of whom called out Dalot for his lackluster defending. One fan tweeted in disbelief, “I love you Dalot, but this is unacceptable. He can see his man, and he has the pace to close him down easily. What was he doing here?” This sentiment echoed across various platforms, with fans unable to comprehend why a player of Dalot’s pace and ability would allow such an avoidable goal to occur.
Another fan voiced similar disappointment, adding, “I need an explanation from Dalot. If my 10-year-old didn’t follow his runner, I’d be worried about him.” The fact that fans were comparing Dalot’s mistake to something one would expect at the youth level only underscored the severity of their frustration. They expected better from a player with his experience and skill set, particularly when the team was already under immense pressure.
Further criticism came from fans who contrasted Dalot’s performance with that of other full-backs in the league. “There’s a subtle difference. Mazraoui keeps checking the man behind him, while Dalot lets him run free. That could have been prevented,” one supporter pointed out, highlighting how easily preventable the situation was if Dalot had shown more awareness and commitment. Fans were not just upset about the goal but seemed to be questioning Dalot’s overall defensive instincts and positioning.
Another supporter expressed sheer disbelief at Dalot’s lack of anticipation: “For someone as fast as Dalot, this is unbelievable. He can see his man and anticipate a cross coming in. I can’t understand what he’s doing.” It wasn’t just a single momentary lapse; for many fans, this was a reflection of deeper concerns about Dalot’s ability to defend against top-quality opposition. The anger wasn’t just directed at the individual mistake but at what it represented—ongoing defensive weaknesses that were becoming far too frequent under Ten Hag’s reign.
Perhaps the most damning criticism came from a fan who, after watching the entire sequence unfold in the newly released footage, remarked, “This is blatant. I knew Dalot was at fault, but seeing the whole clip for the first time is just disgusting.” The word “disgusting” encapsulated the depth of feeling among a portion of the fanbase, who were growing increasingly impatient with the team’s defensive fragility. Dalot’s failure to prevent the goal was seen as emblematic of broader problems in the squad, with United struggling to put up a strong defensive display in recent matches.
This outrage comes at a time when Manchester United’s struggles under Erik ten Hag are becoming more pronounced. With back-to-back poor performances, the pressure is mounting on the manager and his players to turn things around. Defensive lapses, like the one involving Dalot, have been a recurring theme, much to the frustration of fans who have grown tired of seeing the same mistakes repeated on the pitch. What’s worse is that these errors are not just costly—they are avoidable, making them all the more infuriating for supporters who expect more from their club.
In the larger context, this growing discontent among the fanbase isn’t just about a single defeat or one player’s mistake. It’s about the broader state of the team, the perceived lack of improvement, and the frustration of seeing a once-dominant club continue to falter. As criticism of Dalot’s defensive work intensifies, the question remains whether Erik ten Hag can address these recurring issues before they lead to more serious consequences for the team’s ambitions this season.
Ultimately, the anger surrounding Diogo Dalot’s performance is symptomatic of a much larger problem at Manchester United. Fans are growing tired of seeing their team underperform, particularly in high-stakes matches, and Dalot’s defensive slip against Tottenham was simply the latest in a series of missteps. If United is to regain its place among Europe’s elite, players like Dalot will need to step up and take responsibility, ensuring that costly mistakes like this one become a
thing of the past.