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Manchester United fans totally let themselves down with their disgraceful treatment of Diogo Dalot after the final whistle against Aston Villa. The defender has seemingly emerged as the latest scapegoat for United's poor run of form, which is an incredibly short-sighted way to look at things. Everyone can see that he isn't good enough, but that's not exactly a groundbreaking discovery, is it? It's been the case ever since he arrived at United in 2018.
It's quite incredible that Dalot has managed to rack up 260 appearances for the Red Devils in all competitions. He just isn't at the required level for a club of United's stature. That much is obvious.
But is it really his fault? What he lacks in ability is made up for with effort, with the 27-year-old giving his absolute best every time he steps on the pitch.
The fact he remains at the club to this day, rather than being sold years ago, is the fault of those in the boardroom and not Dalot himself.
INEOS and the Glazer family are entirely to blame for the managed decline of United, a once-great footballing institution which is now staring at an unthinkable relegation to the Championship.
Dalot can't be blamed for the fact he hasn't been replaced with somebody who is actually good enough. He is simply doing his job. He gets asked to play almost every minute of every game and does the best he can.
As such, the over-the-top reaction to his substitution against Villa, the boos that followed him down the tunnel and the sickening abuse he received outside the stadium after the game finished, were totally out of line.
At least Dalot seems fully committed to the club, which can't be said for many of his team-mates in the United dressing room.
Michael Carrick made that clear in his post-match interview, saying: "We’re all frustrated, we’re all disappointed, and the players are as much as anyone, I guarantee you that.
"Diogo, he gives absolutely everything. He’s played in different positions, he’s played left back, he’s played really well at times.
"He gives a penalty away today, he knows that. Maybe he can do a little bit better, all right, that’s part of it, he’s made a mistake, but he cares an awful lot and he’s giving everything."
United fans should instead be directing their anger at the real culprits; the likes of the Glazers, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Jason Wilcox.
Simply going to the stadium, holding up a few green-and-yellow banners and singing a few songs clearly isn't enough. They've been doing it for years and it hasn't helped, so why would it suddenly work now?
To enforce real change, they need to hit United's custodians where it hurts: in the pocket. That means not going to games, not buying any official merchandise, and not giving the club another penny until things are different behind the scenes.
But as long as people continue to fill up Old Trafford on a weekly basis, nothing will happen and the same cycle will continue ad nauseam.
Those who line the pockets of United's owners by purchasing match tickets are the same ones abusing Dalot, a player who gives his all but is just another victim of the club's mismanagement from the very top.
Of course, it's not the fault of supporters that United are in this mess, but targeting individual players in this way won't bring about the regime change they so desperately want.
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