Dalot fires UCL warning to Man Utd teammates after red-hot run of form

Manchester United are now in a positive position to secure a spot back in the Champions League next season with Michael Carrick inspiring a brilliant turnaround at Old Trafford

Diogo Dalot has warned his Manchester United teammates to not take the importance of Champions League football for granted. The Red Devils have missed out on a place at Europe’s top table for the past two seasons.

They reached the Europa League final last season, losing to Tottenham. That left United without a spot in the Champions League for the current campaign.

They are in prime position to return to the competition next season, with Michael Carrick having led the side to third in the table. Defender Diogo Dalot has reminded his colleagues that a Champions League spot has to be the target between now and the end of the season.

He said: "I think seasons like this are good for you to know that when you're playing Europa League and especially Champions League, those are the best years, those are the best seasons.

“This year we play, I don't know, maximum 40 games because we came out of the cups even in the early stage, so this is nowhere near what the club should be and the competitions that we should play in."

He added: "So when we are there, when we get the main goal that I really believe that we're going to do next season, if we're playing Champions League, we cannot take for granted. We need to put the club back in there."

Dalot’s teammate Bruno Fernandes has also given his verdict on United’s lack of European football this season. He recently admitted that he has struggled without playing in the Champions League this term.

Speaking after the win against Crystal Palace, he said: "It has to be huge because, you know, like we struggle a lot this season by playing just one game a week. At least, I did!

"And I'm pretty sure also players that have played less because we have less games. It's more difficult to rotate. I think everyone needs the chance to play but, when you have a game [only] every week, it's more difficult for a manager to make a lot of changes and give a lot of opportunities.

"When you play in Europe, with the amount of games you have to play, it gets important also for the squad to understand everyone is very important, on any moment of the season. It still is but, with more games, you have more chances to play.

"And, mainly, to be in the best competition in the world, that is the Champions League, and try to go for a competition that the club has a huge history in."