Jose Mourinho indicated on Friday that he will ration Diogo Dalot’s Manchester United appearances despite an impressive midweek debut in the Champions League.
Mourinho declared that Dalot, 19, was the best young fullback in Europe after signing him from Porto for £19 million in June.
The right- back’s debut was delayed while he recovered from knee surgery.
But he looked assured as he made his first appearance for the club on Wednesday in a 3-0 Champions League victory over Swiss club Young Boys.
Despite that strong display, Mourinho said he would leave the teenager out of his line-up to face Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday – instead selecting him for Tuesday’s League Cup third-round home tie against Championship side Derby.
Antonio Valencia is expected to return in the right back role, having been rested for the midweek win over the Swiss champions.
The manager explained that Dalot needs time to adjust to life at United in order to realise his potential.
“I want him in this process of adaptation to play totally fresh, so he’s not playing tomorrow, he plays Tuesday again,” said Mourinho.
“To play for Manchester United is difficult enough for a kid of 19 years old coming from another country, and after an important injury and surgery.
“That is difficult enough, he doesn’t need to face more difficulty.
“But he showed on Wednesday, for the ones that don’t know him very, very well, he is not a player to be here just for development.
“He is a player to be here to compete for positions (in the team). He’s a very good player.”
Praise for @DalotDiogo and a look ahead to our OT return from @ChrisSmalling... #MUFC pic.twitter.com/OuQSvNelWL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 20, 2018
United go into the Wolves game on a run of three straight victories, conceding only one goal in the process.
Mourinho has fielded a central defensive partnership of Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof in each of those three wins, having started the season with Eric Bailly playing alongside the Sweden international.
However, the manager has rejected the suggestion that Smalling and Lindelof are now his first-choice centre-back pairing, or that they should take all the credit for the defensive record.
“I think the team is resolving the defensive problems better than before,” he said.
“I don’t want to say was Bailly or (Phil) Jones (before), and that it is now Smalling or Lindelof.
“I think the team is more compact, more solid. The spirit, the co-operation, the empathy, the communication – all of that improve the team.”
Jose Mourinho was pleased with Manchester United's defensive performance against Young Boys this week. Photo: Anthony Anex/Keystone via AP