Dalot 'gives absolutely everything' for Man Utd, insists Carrick

Michael Carrick defended Diogo Dalot, saying he "gives absolutely everything" for Manchester United and that he likes what the 27-year-old brings to the team.

United twice came from two goals down against Aston Villa to salvage an unlikely 4-4 draw, with Patrick Dorgu – Dalot's replacement – starring in the remarkable stoppage-time comeback with an assist before netting the equaliser.

Dalot started the game at left-back and was slow to get out to Alysson for the opener, which came with only 60 seconds on the clock.

Nicolas Jackson then doubled their lead in the fourth minute before Bruno Fernandes and former Villan Youri Tielemans levelled the score before half-time.

However, Dalot also gave away a penalty early in the second half, bringing Alysson down, and John McGinn dispatched the resulting spot-kick, with Leon Goretzka once again giving Villa a two-goal cushion that they were unable to hold onto.

Dalot also came under fire after being caught out of position against Roma – another game in which United pulled off a stunning comeback, winning that game 3-2.

But when asked if it was time to drop Dalot from the starting line-up due to the fans' reaction to the Portugal international, Carrick was quick to throw his support behind him.

"We've got to be careful with that, I think," Carrick said. "I understand the frustration.

"I understand the disappointment of the supporters, so I get it. We're all frustrated. We're all disappointed. And the players are as much as anyone, I guarantee you that.

"Diogo gives absolutely everything. He's played in different positions. He's played left-back. He's played really well at times.

"He gave a penalty away. That's, you know… he knows that. Maybe he can do a little bit better. Alright, that's part of it; he's made a mistake. But he cares an awful lot, and he's given everything.

"So, I like what he brings to the team. I like what he brings to the group. I like what he brings to the whole environment and the culture that we've got.

"Picking the team and who plays the next game, that's a whole different decision. But it's a whole different game that we've got to look forward to now."

United are the first team to trail by two goals and level twice in the same Premier League game.

However, the result leaves them in the relegation zone, sitting 18th, having won just one of their first 10 games (D5 L4).

It is their lowest position 10 games into a top-flight season since 1986-87, when they were 20th. They have gone eight Premier League games without a win for just the second time, also doing so between April and May 2025.

United have shown flashes of improvement across their last three games, and Carrick believes the international break has come at the right time for the team to reset.

"It's been a right mixed week or two or three, really, if you're looking at the events," he said.

"But I'm pretty clear where we need to go and how we need to get there. And obviously, some of the boys will be flying off around the world, and different things, and the group will be split for 10 days or so.

"But as a normal international week is, you know, we'll have some training. We'll have one or two days off, but not too much. But we'll train, and we'll get ready for the next game."