Dalot: Winning the cup is our responsibility

The Portugal international spoke to us on Friday afternoon outside the Carrington Training Centre, where a specially branded team bus was parked and ready for a big weekend to come.

As Dalot explained, the squad is brimming with confidence following a run of positive results across all competitions – including Thursday’s Europa League victory over Barcelona at Old Trafford. 

Now, minds have turned to Sunday’s cup final against a Newcastle United team that is also flying high this season. It’s a huge occasion and the match will be difficult, but Diogo is convinced our squad is ready to grasp this opportunity.

“I think it is always easier to train, to grow, when you are winning,” Diogo told Mark Sullivan.

“This confidence that we have now, we have to show it now in the big moments, in the biggest games of the season, that we are up to it, that we have everything to win trophies for this club. 

“We have a big opportunity now, in a cup final, to play for it, to win a trophy that we haven't won for a long time. So, this is a great opportunity and we have to take that responsibility in ourselves, go on the pitch and show everyone that we can win.”

A huge part of Sunday’s final will be the meeting of two passionate fan bases that are both desperate to win silverware.

All season long, we have seen how influential our supporters have been and Dalot believes the crowd was crucial to beating Barcelona on Thursday night. 

“Yeah, it's special,” he said. “We felt that after the equaliser, the fans gave an extra push to us and I think the Barcelona players felt it as well, a little bit of the pressure, and we were on the front foot. 

“I think that is what Man United is about, playing to the Stretford End. It gives us more energy.

“I think they are a massive part of our game today and we want to build this relationship between us and them.

“This will get us going fighting for trophies and that is what we are here for.”