For all of the negativity surrounding Manchester United, Ralf Rangnick has undoubtedly steadied the ship from a results point of view at the very least.
Prior to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ’s dismissal, United had lost five of their previous seven Premier League fixtures, including thumpings by Liverpool, Manchester City and finally, Watford.
In contrast the 11 league fixtures under Rangnick have seen United beaten just once, winning seven times to boost their top four hopes.
There have also been improvements from a number of players who had been underperforming under Rangnick’s predecessor.
Diogo Dalot wasn’t necessarily performing below his standards, rather the Portuguese international wasn’t being given the opportunity to show his credentials.
JOIN THE DEBATE! Will Man Utd make the top four this season? Let us know in the comments
Signed by Jose Mourinho in 2018, United clearly didn’t fancy him as a long-term option splashing out £50million on Aaron Wan-Bissaka just a year later.
That saw Dalot relegated to little more than a spectator in the 2019/20 campaign, before being allowed to join AC Milan at the start of last term.
The 22-year-old showed glimpses of his potential in the Italian capital, before returning to Old Trafford with designs on finally breaking into the team.
But he was made to wait, only usurping Wan-Bissaka as the starter once Rangnick was named interim boss.
And since, he has put in the most consistently impressive run of form since leaving Porto four years ago.
Recent reports claimed that Rangnick now sees the full-back as ‘untouchable’ moving forward, just months after United fielded transfer requests from the likes of Milan and Borussia Dortmund.
Asked about his uptick in form, Dalot told the club’s official site that a more settled routine, including his pre-match talks with Cristiano Ronaldo.
"Since I started playing professional football, I always try to keep my routine," he explained. "Not just mentally but physically as well, to be able to be at my best level to perform. Especially last season, I’ve been stepping up my level in terms of preparing for training and for games.
"Whether it’s nutrition, sleeping or whether it’s beats [music] before and after training, I would say this has been my biggest support outside of the pitch for me to be able to perform on the pitch. I always try to keep my routines there so I can be completely ready to play.”
He went on to discuss his conversations with compatriot and confidante Ronaldo, who has helped him to relax in the build-up to major matches.
"I mean every player has their superstitions," Dalot continued. "To be honest, I don’t have many so now I always, and it’s a fun story, before the games, when we’re at the hotel, I always drink my coffee with Cristiano.
"It’s been a routine now. He actually dragged me into the coffee because I was not a big fan of coffee but now I’ve started doing that. Just to talk a little bit.
“Sometimes we have too much time in the hotel, so we get out of the room, just to talk a little bit and try to focus on the game.”
Amid claims of dressing room divides and cliques, Dalot is one player who is greatly benefiting from the arrival of Ronaldo.
