Diogo Dalot has warned Manchester United exiles Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford they must be prepared to ‘suffer’ if they hope to win their places back in Ruben Amorim’s side.
The Red Devils are still basking in the feelgood factor generated by last Sunday’s stunning Amad Diallo inspired comeback win over rivals Manchester City.
Having made an inauspicious start to his reign, Amorim gained a much-needed victory thanks, largely, to the ingenuity and bravery of the Ivory Coast international.
Diallo has been a shining light in recent weeks with his infectious attitude providing a beacon of hope for a club mired in uncertainty.
The 22-year-old’s performances have been in stark contrast to those delivered by two of his illustrious teammates who were left out of Sunday’s match day squad.
Whether they return to play a part in Thursday’s Carabao Cup quarter final against Tottenham remains to be seen, but Dalot insists there is no room for anyone who isn’t prepared to dig deep and give their all for the new manager.
‘If you’re ready to do that with us, we are going to be a good team. If not, there is no space for you.’
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Amorim’s Portuguese compatriot added: ‘The message was clear from the beginning – if you want to succeed, if you want to thrive, you have to suffer.
‘That’s not just in football but in life. If you want success, you have to work hard and suffer.’
While United fans were ecstatic at the Etihad, the players are refusing to get carried away.
Dalot said: ‘The reality is this is step by step.
Amorim on Rashford and Garnacho
‘If you want to succeed at this club, you have to suffer.
‘We try to evaluate everything training performance, game performances, engagement with teammates, push their teammates up. Everything is on the line when we analyse and try to choose the players. It is my selection. Simple,’ the Manchester United manager told Sky Sports.
‘I don’t want to send a message it is simply an evaluation and they know it. The players are really, really smart. Everybody understands my decision and I have to choose. It is simple selection.
‘Of course the context is difficult because we have to win games and we have a difficult situation now. I pay attention to everything, the way you eat, the way you put your clothes to go to a game. Everything. I make my evaluation and then I decide.
‘There is a communication after the last training. They are alright. They had training this morning and I was there. They trained really well.’
‘With the new manager we are progressing, taking very good steps to where we want to go — but it will take time.
‘The last couple of years we had some crazy games like this, fighting until the end, and that’s the DNA of this club.
‘We showed character and, even when we were losing games, our emotions were kept in control – which is progress from the last couple of years.
‘When we were trailing against City we could have lost our heads.’