Between him and Blind, the best defensive performances we've had since Rio/Vidic partnership.
36
Season Average Rating
- Appearances
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- 12
- Goals
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- 1
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- 3
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Last few months he looks like a new player. Been very good at LB since about mid-March IMO.
Thought he was a definite one to be sold around Jan. He came back into the team when we needed him a lot (especially with Shaw, Young and Rojo out). Hes not let us down defensively.
I'm not his biggest fan but delighted he's picked up form of late, have started trusting him, was immense tonight in particular
Hasn't had an easy time at United tbh, been in and out of the team and shifted around constantly. I'm happy he's been able to do well in the last couple of months and he topped it off tonight with a rock solid performance. Obviously not a good attacker but I can see a place for him here for sure, might not be pretty but if Jose wants to set up defensively at times then he's got a good player here
Chuffed to bits for my boy Matteo. Glad to see people are starting to realise his value and appreciate his contribution to the team, instead of churning out the same old rehashed drivel I'd come to expect from this thread for most of the season.
Great performance from him, seems to be revitalised under Jose.
There was an element of Lingard acting as our FA Cup savior despite a season of being heavily maligned tonight, with both Darmian and Fellaini potentially the two best players on the pitch. I've long railed against Jose's preference for getting the best out of middling players, rather than superstars, but I can't deny it paid off tonight. That was a proper Italian defensive performance to do his national peers proud.
Maybe he can be the Italian Gary Neville after all?
Maybe he can be the Italian Gary Neville after all?
Neville got up on the overlap and had a decent cross on him, so Darmian would have to add that to his game.
Said all along he's more than good enough for us, he just had a confidence problem. He lacks on the attack but he's a defender, so which is more important? He's the best defensive fullback we have. Traore would have skinned Luke Shaw time and again last night.
There was this occasion somewhere near the end of the first half where Traore made a quick 1-2 and was through but he some managed to make an amazing recovery to get his body in between the body. That being said, he was extremely solid.
Possibly his best game in a United shirt? Has turned into a very reliable player at left back as the season has gone on. Probably the biggest surprise of the season, seeing his form these last few months. Between him and Rojo.
He was great. He's improved massively and that's down to his manager. He's twice the player he was under Mourinho.
He'll be here a good while now.
He'll be here a good while now.
He was incredible tonight.
Clearly he is a very useful option and we shouldn't sell in the summer.
Clearly he is a very useful option and we shouldn't sell in the summer.
MOTM for me.Actually the whole back were 5 were great. He is a defensive full back.I know in the modern era people love their fullbacks to be going forwards, but this guy is our best defensive fullback. Looks better on the left, than on the right. Should not be sold
I think he's much more comfortable in this system that doesn't rely on a lot of the ball. Just outright defending, outright attacking and positional discipline. I think he's grown immensely this season, could be a little bit of a 'Rojo-like Resurrection' going on for him.
I'm so happy for him.
He's one of the players I thought would benefit greatly from Jose's man managment, and I'm relieved to see his upturn lately.
My MOTM.
He's one of the players I thought would benefit greatly from Jose's man managment, and I'm relieved to see his upturn lately.
My MOTM.
Fair play to him, in deep set defences, he's beginning to do well. I still think long term, we need much more in that position and he is still dispensable but as a versatile tactical option and 3rd choice LB for next season, wouldn't mind him sticking around.
Wow, very good albeit quiet defensively.
Highlight ~ the kamikaze defence, throwing his body on the line between Traore and the ball.
Under Mourinho the best defensive coach, he certainly have improved much defensively and seems to be bulkier in physique which helps too I suppose. What a turnaround. He's very worrying defensively last season and the early part of this season where wingers could pass by him easily.
Now improve the attacking aspect please
for next season.
Highlight ~ the kamikaze defence, throwing his body on the line between Traore and the ball.
Under Mourinho the best defensive coach, he certainly have improved much defensively and seems to be bulkier in physique which helps too I suppose. What a turnaround. He's very worrying defensively last season and the early part of this season where wingers could pass by him easily.
Now improve the attacking aspect please
for next season.His positional awareness and reading of the game is exceptional
He's been doing good of recent. The problem wit him is that he offers very minimal in the attacking sense and i see it as part of reason for Martial's poor season. Also Darmian's cross isn't that great. We could definitely improve on him
He's been great this season when he should focus on defending. Going forward is another story though
Saved his best Utd performance for the biggest Utd game in years and years.
Fantastic timing. May have saved his Utd career too...
Fantastic timing. May have saved his Utd career too...
Channeled his inner Maldini! He was incredible! Only issue is going forward he can't offer much, but happy with him and Shaw to fight it out for LB next season. If I were to sell one it would be Shaw. Never ever thought I'd say that!
That was proper Italian defending, he got caught for a split second and recovered in absolute style.
Have been loving his performances off late, being an Italian fan I was so excited that we finally signed an Italian international, but after a good start here he was very poor until recently. Like someone mentioned already, these few games might just have saved his united career. Should keep him going into next season as he can be a good squad option that can cover both fullback positions. Unfortunately, that's his ceiling.
Give me Verratti please.
Give me Verratti please.
Our best defensive performances seem to come with him in the side. As I do see it he is one key member of our defensive unit that often has been impressive this season. There are certainly better footballing individuals in our squad already also capable of playing both right and left full back, but is there any who will leave me feeling more assured that our defensive unit is in safe hands, I don´t think so.
a few months ago he was terrible at both defending and overlapping to help the attack.
now he is solid defensively. jose prefer a defensive fullback to balance his back four when attacking so you can understand why he is getting games.
his versatility is also a key in him to remain part of the team for next season.
now he is solid defensively. jose prefer a defensive fullback to balance his back four when attacking so you can understand why he is getting games.
his versatility is also a key in him to remain part of the team for next season.
Fair play to him!
Kept all the Ajax guys quiet who tried to cause issues on his site. Neither Traore nor Neres were any near their level because didn't let them get into the game. Great performce underlining his great comeback in recent weeks.
Kept all the Ajax guys quiet who tried to cause issues on his site. Neither Traore nor Neres were any near their level because didn't let them get into the game. Great performce underlining his great comeback in recent weeks.
The player that first came and we thought he'd be here for a decade. I guess it amazing what a run of games and a bit of confidence can do for a player......
Wouldn't gloat about your foresight as he came as an Italian international and was putting in dogshite performances. He's now doing well as a defender but passing the ball between him and Smalling it is uncomfortable watching them both.
I'm in no way his biggest fan but he was very good the other night defensively. By far and away his best performance in a United shirt
Was good against Ajax defensively. Just like Rojo, I wonder if he would make a better central defender then full back. Similar to shaw - we're looking at fine defensively but we need more offensively from these positions else we'll lack real width.
He did a solid defensive job, but we still need more in terms of an attacking outlet in games we need to break teams down.
Give him a man marking job though and a deep lying defence and he does a good job. Traore was their best player and he kept him pretty quiet, especially 2nd half.
Give him a man marking job though and a deep lying defence and he does a good job. Traore was their best player and he kept him pretty quiet, especially 2nd half.
I've been one of Darmian biggest critics since he joined but he's impressed me a lot lately. He seems to have found his mojo under Jose and he's looks a much better player now. He was my man of the match in the final.
Some players needed more time to response to Mou's treatment and Darmian is one of the players. Hopefully the others would get through the Mou's barrier to become better players.
I wasn't gloating. I'm just pleased he found his place in this team. Having watched him in Serie A several times(on the telly and live), I always knew of his attributes as a player and now he is implementing them quite well to become probably our most solid defensive option. I was super excited to see an Italian playing for us, and despite his shaky patch, I feel vindicated now.
Rock solid. That challenge he made at the end of the first half was fantastic.
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