Diogo Dalot says fans are right to expect something special on derby day
Even though it has been a disappointing season for both Manchester clubs, there is still the prospect that both could end up with more silverware, with United in the last eight of the Europa League and soon-to-be deposed champions City facing an Emirates FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest at Wembley.
Yet all the focus, for the two camps, will squarely be on this weekend’s local affair, despite the challenges that lie on the horizon.
“Every game that you play against the big teams, and European nights, are always special, but when you play City, Liverpool, I think the atmosphere… you can feel it,” enthused Dalot. “It’s a little bit different, for the better, so I’m expecting exactly the same on Sunday.
“When the stadium is like that when the fans are with us, it gives us an extra boost. Like I said, these are almost like one-off games. You know that to win these type of games, you have to be in your best form, best shape, mentally and physically.
“So, on Sunday, it will be one more of these games. Obviously, we want to win. We want to do it in a controlled way and we want to do what we can to plan for the game. But in games like this, everything can happen. So we have to be prepared for any scenario and at the same time, go to the pitch really confident.”
