Dalot seeking more positives

Monday 14 October 2024 15:03

Diogo Dalot is seeking more positives from his work with Portugal as they prepare to face Scotland in the UEFA Nations League.

The Manchester United defender won his 25th cap in the 3-1 victory over Poland, last time out, and is anticipating a tough test at Hampden Park in Tuesday's 19:45 BST kick-off.

Portugal are top of the group with maximum points from three matches, ahead of second-placed Croatia, with Bruno Fernandes assisting the first goal, for Manchester City's Bernardo Silva, against the Poles in Warsaw.

Diogo Dalot has played 25 times for Portugal, scoring three goals.

"It is a great pride for me to reach 25 caps for Portugal," said Dalot. "It's a very special feeling to be able to represent our country and I feel happy and fulfilled with the journey I've taken so far.

"I hope to be able to continue representing our colours at the highest level for many years and help Portugal win."

The full-back continues to crop up in different areas of the pitch as his game evolves, something United manager Erik ten Hag has been exploring for some time.

"I feel good," added the 25-year-old. "This season, in individual terms, has been positive for me looking for other areas of the field. It gives me and the coaches other options and I think it has been positive." 

After coming up against a former team-mate in Maxi Oyedele, who earned his first senior cap for Poland on Saturday, another ex-Red stands in Portugal's way in Glasgow, with Scott McTominay the key man for Steve Clarke's men.

"Scotland will be a different type of game and we expect it to be difficult," admitted Dalot. "There will be a good atmosphere, which is typical of British football and stadiums. But we enjoy it when it's passionate like that. 

"It's going to be a tough, physical match and you saw when we played them at home [it finished 2-1 to Portugal, with Cristiano Ronaldo bagging a late winner], how much we suffered early on. We have to pay attention to what Scotland can do."

Order your Dalot shirt here.

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