Update: |Manchester United star was criticised this season – but has improved without anybody realising News

Man Utd defender Diogo Dalot didn’t look himself for most of the season but he’s quietly improved over the last few weeks.

“One day you’re the cock of the walk, the next you’re the feather duster.”

Diogo Dalot won the Players’ Player of the Year award last season, which is decided by his teammates at Manchester United and it was well-deserved recognition of his consistency.

Dalot forced his way back into the starting team in 2023/24 and became one of the most consistent performers in the United side, starting in 35 games from a possible 38 in the Premier League and impressively managing to avoid injury, only being unavailable once through suspension.

This season has been different, though. Dalot has struggled for form, he’s been played in different positions and, probably for the first time, he has faced intense criticism from supporters.

United have suffered a miserable campaign and are 13th in the Premier League. That means criticism of the players should be expected, as they are responsible for results, but Dalot might have thought the good will he’d banked would help him through such a difficult period.

With the exception of Bruno Fernandes and Amad, nobody will emerge from this season with credit and Dalot’s excellent 2023/24 has been quickly forgotten by the majority of supporters.

Players are mostly judged on what they do today, not what they’ve done in the past, and the Portugal international looked a shade of his former self until turning a corner in the last few weeks.

Has anyone noticed Dalot turn that corner? He’s quietly gone about his business to deliver improved performances against the likes of Real Sociedad, Leicester, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City.

Dalot scored against Sociedad at Old Trafford, he provided an assist for Bruno Fernandes at the King Power Stadium, hit the crossbar against Forest and was comfortable against City.

Ruben Amorim has tinkered with Dalot’s position and he played on the left against Leicester before relocating to the right, which led to him feeding Fernandes with a decent cross.

Last weekend, Dalot received a pass from Alejandro Garnacho on the right, beat Nico O’Reilly and played a delightful cross into the box, only for Garnacho to fail to connect with a header.

Dalot is clearly better on the right and it’s no wonder his improved performances have come from that side, although he’s the type of player that will play in any position for his manager.

Although United need to sign a right wing-back in the summer window because Dalot is not a natural fit for that role, he will continue to be an excellent squad option after this season.

Dalot is dedicated to his craft, doing the right things off the pitch and staying behind to do extras at Carrington. Cristiano Ronaldo was impressed by his professionalism during his second stint in Manchester and there will always be room for someone like that in United’s dressing room.

The 26-year-old deserved some criticism earlier in the season, but now he deserves to be praised.