According to a report by Manchesterevening News Tuesday November 3, 2026, in spite of Manchester United's dismal run of defeats, defender Diogo Dalot was unexpectedly named to WhoScored's Premier League Team of the Month for October.

October carried on United's arduous campaign, which had begun in September with comparable challenges. The pressure on Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick grew as the team lost all of their matches in all competitions.

While still rooting for Carrick, fans have taken their frustrations out on the team's players, ownership, and football director Jason Wilcox. Their response indicates that they do not hold the manager completely accountable for United's misfortunes.

Several players have failed to consistently showcase their abilities, which has led to the team's disappointing performances. But what fans see on the field and what the numbers show can be misleading at times.

There is no shortage of criticism for Dalot's performances, but his statistical contributions in October seem to have put him in the conversation for best defender in the Premier League that month.

In spite of United's lackluster performance, the Portuguese international was named to WhoScored's monthly strongest defensive lineup, joining Gabriel Magalhaes and other notable performers.

Goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen was named in October, and the defense was rounded out by Dalot, James Hill, Josh Acheampong, and Gabriel Magalhaes. Midfielders Jeremy Doku, Declan Rice, Pedro Neto, and Jordan Henderson were on the field.

With the help of their statistical performances and contributions in October's Premier League fixtures, WhoScored selected players like Nicolas Jackson and Evanilson to round out the attacking positions.

Throughout the month, Dalot won 22 duels, 11 aerial challenges, and racked up 302 minutes. As a result of those numbers, the Manchester United defender was surprised to be named to the monthly squad.

On the other hand, his defensive efforts as a whole were lacking in conviction. Neither United nor Dalot were able to earn a win in October, and neither defense was able to keep a clean sheet.

The Portuguese defender has been a mainstay in Manchester United's starting lineup for the past 25 seasons, starting under Erik ten Hag, Ruben Amorim, and Michael Carrick.

One possible explanation for his continued involvement is that there isn't much competition for fullback spots on the team. Dalot has shown he can adapt to different situations by playing either the right or left back position defensively.

If United are to make a comeback, though, the defender and his teammates will need to do more than just contribute statistically; they will need to produce consistently compelling performances on the field.

In the Premier League this season, Dalot has nine appearances, 649 minutes played, fifteen crucial passes, a passing accuracy of 79%, seventeen tackles, one block, and thirteen interceptions.

Statistics as of November 3, 2026 show that he has also won 47 duels, attempted 19 dribbles, and completed 7 of them.