Dalot: Carabao Cup is not a smaller trophy
Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot says that the Reds need to have “an obsession” with winning trophies and that success in the Carabao Cup would be important for the long-term development of the team.
United face Charlton Athletic in the quarter-finals at Old Trafford tomorrow (Tuesday), knowing that a win would take us into the last four of the domestic cup competition.
Dalot is yet to lift a piece of silverware since arriving at United in 2018, but is determined to do just that in this campaign, as we also chase our first trophy under Erik ten Hag.
Dalot is yet to lift a piece of silverware since arriving at United in 2018, but is determined to do just that in this campaign, as we also chase our first trophy under Erik ten Hag.
Diogo Dalot's Fans' Conference Video
Diogo Dalot's Fans' Conference
Watch all of our Fans' Conference, with in-form Diogo Dalot tackling supporters' probing questions at Carrington...
"I think it has to be an obsession for us to win trophies, to win things,” Diogo told our supporters during his Fans’ Conference at Carrington, previewing the Charlton game, on Monday afternoon.
“I think you guys feel even more than me, you are here longer than me, that we have to win. This club is about winning trophies.
“It is about competing and fighting in every trophy that we are in. And this Carabao [Cup] is not smaller than a Champions League, than a Europa League.
“Obviously, it's different dimensions but for us it's a trophy and we want to win it.”
“I think you guys feel even more than me, you are here longer than me, that we have to win. This club is about winning trophies.
“It is about competing and fighting in every trophy that we are in. And this Carabao [Cup] is not smaller than a Champions League, than a Europa League.
“Obviously, it's different dimensions but for us it's a trophy and we want to win it.”
United last lifted the League Cup in 2017 and as a final traditionally played in February or March in the modern English football calendar, it has regularly become the first cup competition up for grabs in a campaign.
Dalot is determined to go all the way to the final – to be played on Sunday 26 February this term – and lift the honour with the Reds, but knows that is easier said than done having only been as far as the semi-final stage before with United.
“Obviously, to arrive there, to go to Wembley, it's a tough journey. We know, it's difficult,” the young full-back continued, answering a question about the impact winning the tournament could have, from supporter Marc Henry.
“But we want to take these small steps first. And every time we make a step, we want to do it with the certainty that we are moving in the right direction, and I think we are in the right direction but the reality is that we are not there yet.
“But to arrive there, we have to build many things first and I think this competition would a very first big and firm step that we could take, especially because it is the first trophy of the season, and we are close.”
Dalot is determined to go all the way to the final – to be played on Sunday 26 February this term – and lift the honour with the Reds, but knows that is easier said than done having only been as far as the semi-final stage before with United.
“Obviously, to arrive there, to go to Wembley, it's a tough journey. We know, it's difficult,” the young full-back continued, answering a question about the impact winning the tournament could have, from supporter Marc Henry.
“But we want to take these small steps first. And every time we make a step, we want to do it with the certainty that we are moving in the right direction, and I think we are in the right direction but the reality is that we are not there yet.
“But to arrive there, we have to build many things first and I think this competition would a very first big and firm step that we could take, especially because it is the first trophy of the season, and we are close.”
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Dalot and his team-mates will no doubt be aiming to win the biggest prizes in the game over the coming years, so the full-back understands the importance of getting that first trophy under the belt and how it could catapult this team to further successes in the future.
Our no.20, who is enjoying a fine first season under Ten Hag, says the Reds will treat tomorrow’s visit of League One Charlton with the highest importance, due to the significance of the game to our longer-term ambitions.
“We have to have this type of mentality and face the game tomorrow like it is a Premier League game or the Europa League final or something like this.
“We have to, as it should [be], and hopefully we can be celebrating in a month or so."
Our no.20, who is enjoying a fine first season under Ten Hag, says the Reds will treat tomorrow’s visit of League One Charlton with the highest importance, due to the significance of the game to our longer-term ambitions.
“We have to have this type of mentality and face the game tomorrow like it is a Premier League game or the Europa League final or something like this.
“We have to, as it should [be], and hopefully we can be celebrating in a month or so."
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