Diogo Dalot has admitted he has had to play through the pain barrier to help Manchester United through their many injury problems this season.
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United suffered endless injuries this seasonDalot admitted he played through painCited Fernandes as an example for everyoneWHAT HAPPENED?
United have suffered more than 60 injuries this season, leading to players missing a combined total of more than 350 matches. The injury crisis contributed to the Red Devils ending the season in eighth, their lowest finish in the Premier League era, while losing a record 14 matches. And Dalot said the crisis meant he had to keep playing in matches while hurting.
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Dalot told reporters: "Yeah a few obviously but that’s part of being a football player. Are you ready to cope with it? Are you ready to make an extra mile for the team? Especially this season. And there are games that you have to forget a little bit of the pain. The problems that you are having. Because the team needs you, because there are no players. That obviously happened sometimes this season, but for me it’s just… In my head it’s normal."
GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Dalot played the most Premier League minutes of any United outfield player this season, with Bruno Fernandes just trailing him. The United captain has been praised by Erik ten Hag on repeated occasions for always being available. Indeed, the game with Crystal Palace in May was the first match he has ever missed in his entire career due to injury.
FERNANDES 'DOES EVERYTHING' TO PLAY
"He’s been one of the cases that obviously… he is showing that he’s doing everything that he can to play for the club and to help the club," Dalot said of Fernandes. "He’s been available every game and it shows that if you are available, you are closest to play games. This is the kind of way that I think every club, every squad should go because if you have 70-80 percent of the players available every season, I think it’s going to be a lot easier than if you have 10-15%."