Huge Ambition! Diogo Dalot targeting Man Utd’s return to Champions League

Diogo Dalot is focused on helping Manchester United secure Champions League football next season as the Red Devils continue their impressive form under Michael Carrick.

United’s dazzling form under Michael Carrick continued on Sunday as the Red Devils came-from-behind to defeat 10-man Crystal Palace 2-1 at Old Trafford.

The victory lifted them up to third — their highest position in the Premier League since the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

United last played in the Champions League in 2023-24, dropping down to the Europa League last season when they made the final but lost to Tottenham in Bilbao, and sitting out European competition this term has hurt.

However, with Carrick’s team now looking unstoppable, Dalot believes Champions League football is possible.

“I think seasons like this are good for you to know that when you’re playing Europa League and especially Champions League, those are the best years, those are the best seasons,” Dalot said.

“This year we play, I don’t know, a maximum of 40 games because we came out of the cup even in the early stage, so this is nowhere near what the club should be and the competitions that we should play in.

“So when we are there, when we get the main goal that I really believe that we’re going to do next season, if we’re playing Champions League, we cannot take it for granted and we need to put the club back in there.”

Diogo Dalot in action during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Old Trafford. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Dalot also praised Portuguese teammate Bruno Fernandes who has been consistent all season.

Fernandes was once again the key man for United on Sunday as he scored the equalizing goal from the penalty spot and set up Benjamin Sesko to score his second winner of the week.

“When you’re so consistent, when you play for many years at a very high level, sometimes when you’re not there for one game people start doubting and people start always thinking that you should do that all the time,” Dalot said of his compatriot.

“But that’s the most difficult thing in football, to be consistent during the whole season, whether you’re going to have ups and downs, but he’s always a player and person who shows up all the time and he never hides, so I think that’s what this club needs.

“It’s important because it keeps you alive during the game at every moment.”