Manchester United face a tricky situation as they will walk into the all-important game against Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League semi-final first leg at San Mamés on May 1, 2025, without their star wing-back Diogo Dalot, as the Portuguese misses out because of a calf injury. He has been a mainstay at Old Trafford, and you could recognise that when you aggregate the numbers, given he has made 51 appearances in the ongoing campaign (more than any other player in the Man United squad).
When you look at it, his injury not only takes away his defensive contributions but also puts a solid dent in United’s offensive sequences given how pivotal he had been in the wing-back role.
But let’s get a bit deeper, deeper on the potential impact and tactical lapses in United’s game because of his absence…
One of the first things that you’d say is that he has a big engine, and despite his offensive positionings, he always found a way to grind out defensively on that right flank. And his absence will particularly expose the Premier League heavyweights defensively. Athletic Bilbao has a strong left flank, particularly where Nico Williams operates (if he is fit to play), given how the Spaniard is a menace with his pace and dribbling skills, and he could end up exploiting these defensive frailties.
Then come his offensive contributions; see, a lot has even someone who would put in a shift every time. He pulls out wide with his overlapping runs and ability to deliver crosses, and his presence helped stretch opponents. And his contributions have helped Rubem Amorim’s side greatly, with width and depth in the final third helping the likes of Rasmus Højlund and Bruno Fernandes. And without Dalot, the Premier League heavyweights may struggle to maintain the same level of offensive fluidity in those right zones. It could potentially end up that United play more predictable sequences and are less effective in attack.
What could United do about it?
Given that Athletic Bilbao will pose a lot of threat down that flank, especially if Nico Williams were to play, it makes it very important for Amorim to have a solid defensive capacity in those wide areas. Despite his recent deployments playing down the middle, Amorim can end up starting Mazraoui on the right, given how he brings similar balance between defence and attack .
Then if we are speaking offensively, not having Dalot means United will need a drifter. Now there are possibly two solutions to this: one is to play Bruno Fernandes in a role where he is encouraged to drift into those wide zones; another is to bring in Alejandro Garnacho, who can add that needed width and try to make sure that the attacking sequences remain unpredictable.
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Author Opinion
The fact that Diogo Dalot will miss out this midweek with an injury is a significant setback for Manchester United, and this is going to bring some sort of problems in the attacking as well as defensive departments, but that being said, Ruben Amorim will need to carefully think about the possible replacement for the Portugal international. One way to go about this is to have a holding player on that fullback flank and ensure that they are defensively solid while they are away and then try to find creative solutions in the second leg when United play at home.