Diogo Dalot believes Erik ten Hag is already repairing the damage at Old Trafford as Manchester United manager. It is no secret that the Red Devils were a club in disarray when the Dutchman took charge in May.
A chaotic 2021-22 campaign saw the club become a laughing stock of English football. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking, Ralf Rangnick’s uninspiring reign and heavy defeats to Liverpool and Man City led many to suspect United had reached an all-time low.
Frustration from supporters towards the Glazer family heightened throughout the summer when moves for stars like Frenkie de Jong broke down. Overseeing incomings while handling an exodus, with high-profile names like Jesse Lingard, Edinson Cavani and Juan Mata heading for the exit, was also no envious task for an incoming manager.
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Throw in Ten Hag’s personal battle of adapting to a new country and league - while taking an enormous step up as a manager - and it appeared he had a mountain to climb. Back-to-back defeats in the opening two games of the season saw fans vent their anger towards the club’s distant owners.
The late signings of Casemiro and Antony went some way to appeasing supporters but, throughout the hostilities, support for Ten Hag remained strong. Three months on, United appear to have weathered the storm and are well-placed in the Premier League.
Supporters are behind the Ten Hag project, with praise given to his style of play and handling of the Cristiano Ronaldo saga. Speaking to the Sunday Times, Dalot claimed the club is on the mend after enduring a divided atmosphere in recent years.
“I see this season is a transitional period,” he said. “For the club, for the team, for the players. After a good pre-season but a two-bad-games start we had to click and realise it was a long season to play, a different season with a World Cup as well, and we had to adapt.
“We still have to improve. As a squad, in terms of the connection between manager and players, the connection between players and fans - which I think is getting better. But it’s only a mirror of what we are doing on the pitch.”
The defender also senses a growing rapport between players and supporters. A disconnect was evident at Old Trafford, especially under Rangnick, with leaks from the camp emerging on a week-by-week basis.
“If you’re doing everything for the club, I think United fans see that,” Dalot added. “We want to get them behind us as much as we can. I think it’s growing, the connection between us. It’s what this club is about, that connection."
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