What was he doing out of his position. He is the main reason they scored the second and third goals which is actually criminal for a defender of his caliber. He was not playing like a professional footballer despite the amount of years he has played football.” – This is according to A MUTV pundit and former player Danny Simpson as he has criticized a Manchester United defender, calling his role in Tottenham’s goal at Old Trafford “criminal.”
Manchester United delivered a dreadful performance from front to back in their defeat to Tottenham at Old Trafford.
The extent of United’s poor display is hard to put into words, but the opening goal serves as a clear example.
After losing possession upfield, a Tottenham defender was allowed to sprint 70 yards unchallenged, deliver a low cross, and find an unmarked winger who tapped the ball into an empty net. It was a shambolic moment.
Erik ten Hag’s side showed no signs of improvement, eventually losing 3-0, and the scoreline could have been even worse.
**Diogo Dalot under criticism**
Diogo Dalot has faced heavy criticism for his role in failing to mark Brennan Johnson during Tottenham’s opening goal.
Former Manchester United defender Danny Simpson, speaking on MUTV, expressed disappointment with the team’s defensive performance and singled out Dalot’s contribution to the goal.
Simpson said: “When I saw the cross, the amount of space Brennan Johnson had at the back post was shocking. That’s Dalot’s area to cover. Whether he was playing in an inverted role from midfield or as a full-back, he should have recovered.”
He added: “Conceding a goal within two or three minutes is a disaster. The whole sequence leading up to it was poor.”
**Dalot Criticized for Defensive Lapses**
“We need to do better at closing down space, reacting quicker, and ensuring everyone is moving across the field effectively,” said Danny Simpson, reflecting on Manchester United’s defensive struggles. He pointed out that Ugarte could have reacted faster, but by the time he did, it was too late.
Simpson continued, “Dalot raised his hands to apologize, but that’s not acceptable at any level.”
Jamie Redknapp also criticized Dalot on Sky Sports, saying, “It’s terrible from Dalot. You see him far on the other side of the pitch; as a left-back, you should be tracking back, following the run. But he’s jogging. It’s really poor from him.”
**Dalot at Fault for Third Goal**
After Bruno Fernandes’ red card, Tottenham capitalized with two more goals in the second half. Dalot was again culpable for the third, as Dominic Solanke easily scored from a flicked corner, with Dalot slow to react and out of position.
United have had to rely on Dalot at left-back due to injuries to Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, who are out until after the international break. While Dalot had generally performed well in this role, this match was one of his worst performances in recent memory.Diogo Dalot’s performance against Tottenham was indeed under heavy scrutiny, as his defensive lapses contributed to key moments in Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat. This match was a stark contrast to his earlier solid displays at left-back, but the pressure from key absentees like Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia has left the team vulnerable, particularly in defensive transitions. With criticism from figures like Danny Simpson and Jamie Redknapp, it’s clear that Dalot’s positioning and reaction times need improvement to help stabilize the defense.