Dalot: This is not the standard
Diogo Dalot admitted Manchester United did not do enough to qualify from Group A of this season’s UEFA Champions League.
The Reds’ European exit was confirmed on Tuesday, as Kingsley Coman scored the only goal of the game to secure a 1-0 victory for already-qualified Bayern Munich.
Dalot thinks the damage was done across the previous games, especially the meetings with FC Copenhagen, who finished second to progress, and Galatasaray.
United led in all four games but, ultimately, only took four points from them.
“Yeah, especially [the] games that we were leading by one, two goals,” our full-back replied, when asked if there was an area he thought we could have improved on.
United 0 Bayern Munich 1
ArticleThe Reds produce a valiant display but bow out of Europe after Coman's second-half goal.
“We cannot concede so many goals that we conceded in this group stage. It’s just not good enough. We’re obviously sad.
“But, at the same time, we just have to realise that this is not the standard that we want to set for this club and for us. So we have to get better.”
Although, in truth, the Reds rarely tested Manuel Neuer in a bid to get the victory we needed to remain in European competition, Diogo thought there were positives to take from the evening.
However, our no.20 conceded that an improved performance means nothing without the win.
“We came here today to win the game. We knew that that was the only result that we wanted,” he added.
“I think we did enough to win the game. We played well, especially first half. We were in control, defending really well, the box.
Maguire and Shaw injury latest
ArticleHarry and Luke were withdrawn to provide Erik with fitness worries ahead of Liverpool.
“And then, one slight mistake, a small detail in the second half and we conceded a goal. Then it was getting after the result and, eventually, we couldn't.
“I think we showed composure with the ball, good pressing as well. I think we were compact. We made it difficult for them.
“This is how we should approach every game, so this is the kind of standard that we want to set for the rest of the games.
“But it doesn't matter if you don't win it, so we just had to combine everything, the result and the performance.”