After being one of the first names on Erik ten Hag's teamsheet prior to the World Cup, few would have anticipated that Diogo Dalot would be the man facing so much criticism in recent weeks.
The Manchester United right-back, after a series of outstanding performances ahead of the showpiece event in Qatar, was proving himself as the Reds' most improved player under Ten Hag, following the Dutchman's arrival at the club last summer. He quickly cemented himself as the former Ajax chief's first choice right-back and seemed both untouchable and undroppable.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka's future at the club was in serious doubt and it was telling that Ten Hag preferred Tyrell Malacia at right-back instead of the former when Dalot was suspended for United's 2-1 win over Fulham in their last outing before the mid-season pause. However, since returning from a disappointing World Cup campaign with Portugal, Dalot, though he has not been helped by injury problems, has regressed.
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His performances have been not been convincing and he has failed to replicate the standards that he had set in the first few months of the season. Wan-Bissaka, in light of Dalot's injury problems, has been given the chance to resurrect his United career in the last couple of months and has been the better of the two right-backs in 2023 so far.
However, now that Dalot has returned to full fitness, Wan-Bissaka has struggled for regular opportunities in more recent weeks. Ahead of Sunday's clash with Southampton, Dalot has started each of the last four matches in all competitions, but has been replaced at half-time in two of them, being withdrawn midway through the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United at Wembley and during Thursday night's 4-1 win over Real Betis in the Europa League, in both of which Wan-Bissaka has come on to replace him.
Dalot has always been considered as a more attack-minded full-back than Wan-Bissaka and that is perhaps why he has held onto his starting berth in recent weeks, despite producing some faltering performances. Data shows that the former AC Milan loanee has played 134 progressive passes this season, second only behind injured star Christian Eriksen.
He is also second in Ten Hag's squad for producing the most progressive passes per 90 minutes. Compared with Wan-Bissaka, the Portuguese ace also recovers an average of 5.8 balls per games and wins 68 per cent of his challenges.
Furthermore, Dalot, who has scored once for the Reds this season, also has the highest aerial win percentage in the United squad (71.1%), making him the joint seventh-best in the Premier League alongside teammate Raphael Varane. He also makes an average of seven defensive challenges per game.
In the attacking department, Dalot, who has netted three goals for club and country this season, averages almost two crosses per game and boasts a successful dribbles percentage of 73%. He has also recorded an average of 43 accurate passes per game.
In all, it is felt that Dalot, working in tandem with summer signing Casemiro, has helped transform United's right-hand side. Though the latter is a central-midfielder, he does operate on the right of the two sitting midfielders, meaning he is heavily involved in United's play down the aforementioned side.
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