So far this season, the Portuguese full-back has featured in 43 of 44 fixtures across all competitions, thanks to his self-described “obsessive” approach to preparation and recovery. It was a similar story in the 2023/24 campaign as well: Dalot appeared in 50 of 52 matches in total, with only goalkeeper Andre Onana bettering his record with 51 outings.
In an era when players are challenged by relentless schedules and more physically demanding games, availability and consistency are priceless attributes to have – which Diogo understands. “I think in top football, especially in today's game, availability is something that is becoming much more important than probably a few years ago,” he told us ahead of tonight’s match against Real Sociedad.