'This is what we want' - what Diogo Dalot told Rasmus Hojlund after Man United goal vs Brighton

Right-back Diogo Dalot praised teammate Rasmus Hojlund's mentality after he stepped off the bench to score Manchester United's second goal in Sunday's 2-0 win at Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Dane, who joined United from Atalanta last summer, doubled United's lead with just two minutes of regulation time left at the Amex Stadium. It marked his second goal in as many appearances after scoring against Newcastle United in midweek.

Just as he was against Newcastle, Hojlund was introduced as a second-half substitute by manager Erik ten Hag and gave United a freshness at the top end of the pitch. He linked up brilliantly with fellow substitute Christian Eriksen for his goal.

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Ten Hag may have started Hojlund on the bench for the second game running in an attempt to manage his workload ahead of Saturday's FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley. He has put himself right in the frame to start the showpiece event after coming off the bench to score in each of his last two games.

And it is his mentality that has impressed Dalot. He told MUTV: "I told him straight away after the goal that this is the type of mentality that we want. Whether you're on the bench, whether you start the game, you need to be ready. Fresh.

"As soon as you come on, if it is for five minutes, one minute, 15 or 20, you need to give everything, and he has shown, especially in these last two games when he has come on, that he gives energy to the team. He is fresh, he is strong and he's winning duels.

"This is the Rasmus that we want to see all season and I am really happy with him."

On the victory itself, the Portuguese right-back continued: "I think it was a progressive performance. We started really well but then we lost some balls in the middle and we lost some confidence, especially with the ball.

"Without the ball, first half, we were struggling a little bit to defend the pockets and the spaces in the middle. They were doing a lot of one-twos that created some chances. We were lucky not to go into half-time with one goal conceded, so we knew that we needed a change and we had much more control in the second half."