No Manchester United player came away from Sunday’s humiliating defeat to Tottenham with their reputation intact.
But Diogo Dalot has received the harshest condemnation, with the full-back’s part in the game’s opening goal described as ‘criminal’, ‘unthinkable’, and ‘indefensible’.
United fell down after just three minutes, with Micky van de Ven capitalizing on Marcus Rashford’s ineffective pushing to pick up the ball in his own half. The Dutchman raced past four United defenders to set up Brennan Johnson, who was unmarked to knock in from yards out.
Johnson was allowed to stroll into the box uncontested, with replays showing Dalot failing to pursue his man into the area and seemingly giving up on the edge of his own box.
Noussair Mazraoui, Bruno Fernandes, Manuel Ugarte, and Matthijs de Ligt were all unable to deal with van de Ven’s run, but Danny Murphy singled out Dalot as the worst in the act.
‘That is the hardest aspect of this goal,’ Murphy said on Match of the Day 2. ‘He [Johnson] made up 12 yards, and they started level. Check out Dalot’s reply. That is simply inconceivable’.
Former United right back Danny Simpson was likewise perplexed by Dalot’s location as Johnson opened the scoring.
‘I see the cross coming, and Brennan Johnson having so much room at the back post, I believe it’s a crime,’ he told MUTV.
“I think that’s Dalot’s position; I’m not sure if he was inverted from midfield or full back, and he needs to recover.”
‘Diogo Dalot had his hands up, apologizing – but it is unacceptable at any level.’
Tim Howard, another former United great, has virtually accused Dalot of resigning.
