Manchester United ‘go to sleep’ and ‘wake up’ thinking about finishing in the top four, according to young full-back Diogo Dalot.
A £19million summer signing from Porto, Dalot made his first Premier League start of the season for an injury-hit United on Wednesday night, the chaotic 2-2 draw with Arsenal.
The result stretched United’s winless domestic run to four games and Jose Mourinho’s side remain eight points away from fourth place, with a negative goal difference leaving them in eighth behind Everton and Bournemouth.
After the 2-2 draw at Southampton on Saturday, Mourinho told Brazilian network RedeTV that United would need “almost a miracle” to achieve a top-four finish and qualify for next season’s Champions League.
The United manager has since rowed back on those comments, claiming that they do not reflect his true opinion, though his side’s hopes of reaching fourth appear increasingly slim.
Dalot still believes United can close the eight-point gap over the remainder of the season, however, and wants to end the recent run without a victory against struggling Fulham on Saturday.
“We sleep thinking about getting into the top four and we wake thinking about getting into the top four,” he said. “For sure we will get there. It is our main goal, for now, to get into the top for and I think are will get there.”
“As a team, we need to develop every single game. The spirit and fight is there and we will get there.
“Fulham is a big game now. One of the things I have noticed in England is that there are no weak games in the Premier League. There is no game in which you can relax. We need the points to climb the table.
“We are improving and we are fighting to get results and I think we are getting better.”
Dalot was targeted by Arsenal in Wednesday’s draw but won effusive praise from Mourinho for the way he dealt with Unai Emery’s side. Mourinho said United have “a right-back for 10 years” and an heir to Gary Neville in the shape of the youngster and Dalot later returned the compliment.
“Jose Mourinho brings all his experience and knowledge of the game to us all, not just me,” the 19-year-old said. “He is one of the best coaches ever and for me it is a dream come true to be alongside him and to learn from him. For me, it is very good.
“I needed to adapt considering the team I’m now playing in, the coach and the league I am playing in but I think my game can adapt and get my game together here and settle down. With the help of my team-mates, the coach and the fans I think I will be improving a lot here.
“I feel ready now for a run in the side and as long as the coach needs me I will be ready for him.”
