Tom Heaton has dished out a (Image: Getty)
An unnamed Manchester United player has already received a “b********g” from Tom Heaton, one of the six members of Ruben Amorim’s new-look leadership team. “Yes, but only naturally,” Heaton chuckled.
“It’s not just about delivering sort of b********gs as you put it. I think it’s also about supporting people that need it, trying to make sure we’re guiding it and channelling it in the right way.”
Heaton, Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire represent the three survivors from United’s previous leadership group who have been retained in the revamped version under Amorim.
The goalkeeper, who turns 40 next year, penned a 12-month contract extension with the Red Devils in June and continues to be amongst the most influential figures in the changing room.
Fresh additions to the leadership circle include Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui. This creates an eclectic mix of three players in their thirties alongside three younger stars in their twenties, representing four nations across three continents.
The group’s average age sits just above 30.
“They are responsible for the group,” Amorim outlined. “There are some things that in the last year I had to deal with. I said to them this year, you deal with that. Small issues are with you guys. You are responsible. All these small changes, I think it’s helping the group.”
Tom Heaton, with a 14-year connection to United across two spells, returned to his childhood club in 2021.
He shared insights into the dressing room dynamics: “I think he [Amorim] feels quite strongly about having a group of players that have a strong influence on the dressing room.
“It provides a little bit of support to Bruno in that respect. That’s how it came about and obviously honoured as ever to be part of that and try and have as much influence on it as I possibly can.”
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In terms of tenure at United, Dalot is just behind Luke Shaw, who is now in his 12th year with the club. Despite Shaw being part of Erik ten Hag’s leadership group, he only started four matches last season, three of which were in May.
Amorim is said to be particularly drawn to Dalot and Fernandes, a natural inclination given their Portuguese heritage. Dalot’s proficiency in four languages also makes him one of the most accessible squad members.
Cristiano Ronaldo praised Dalot and Martinez in 2022, naming them among three teammates he respected at United, with Casemiro being the third who Ten Hag later included in the leadership group.
By 2024, Dalot had followed in Ronaldo’s footsteps by being named United’s players’ player of the year. His status as a senior figure, linguistic skills, consistent availability, and likeability clearly resonated with his peers, earning him their vote.
Dalot received an upgrade to squad number ‘2’ from Amorim during the summer and took the captain’s armband for the second half of United’s goalless stalemate with Leeds United in Stockholm last month.
The irony is that he’s no longer guaranteed a starting berth, with Amad now the preferred choice on the right flank to link up with Bryan Mbeumo.
From the leadership group, only Fernandes could realistically feature from the first whistle against Arsenal on Sunday.
This is unlikely to intimidate the remaining players in the changing room.
“It obviously brings you even more responsibility,” Dalot acknowledges, “but I think one of the reasons why that happened is because of the way I am.
“So I try to be the same person, but obviously it brings you even more responsibility because we’re talking about a very good group of players with different personalities that I think we can try to create a culture where we demand the maximum from our teammates, from ourselves as well.
Tom Heaton is one of six members. (Image: Getty)
“But we have to be the first ones to give the example. I think that’s the best way that I like to lead also. We have to be the first ones to show to everyone where we want to put the club back on top and then try to put everyone in the same. Like we say in Portugal, everyone is in the same boat.”
Dalot maintains a close friendship with Ronaldo and benefited from having Raphael Varane and Casemiro nearby during United’s triumphant 2022/23 campaign – three proven champions to learn from.
His durability is so legendary that he’s been absent for merely 13 club matches since returning to United from his season-long stint at AC Milan in 2021.
An insider revealed that Dalot “took every good trait when playing with Cristiano and only further enhanced his dedication”.
To minimise muscle discomfort and boost circulation, Dalot dons leg compressors during long-haul flights.
Sources have noted the stark contrast between Dalot’s current lean and toned physique and his appearance at his unveiling in June 2018. At the time, a 19 year old Dalot was recovering from a meniscus injury that had kept him out of action for three months, sporting a youthful face.
Now, he employs a personal chef to prepare his meals at home. Fernandes has been absent from just two United matches due to injury in over five years.
“He has the highest pain threshold I have ever encountered,” a source from Carrington disclosed.
His influence continues to be significant. As recently as the 1-1 stalemate with Fiorentina on Saturday, Fernandes encouraged Patrick Dorgu to ramp up his intensity in the 78th minute.
A minute later, Dorgu was making a dash into the penalty area.
Amorim included Mazraoui – a Ten Hag signing – stating, “he’s a character that I like”. Last season, Mazraoui played in seven different positions and was rested for only two matches.
Joshua Zirkzee spoke highly of how inspiring Martinez has been in the treatment room, despite being sidelined since February 2 due to a knee injury. Martinez led United as captain in last year’s 1-1 Europa League draw against Fenerbahce.
Maguire, having been relieved of his captaincy duties by Ten Hag in July 2023, donned the armband once again under Amorim’s leadership during a resounding 4-0 victory over Everton on December 1.
Despite a turbulent couple of seasons and a failed £30million move to West Ham United, Maguire’s resilience has shone through, marking him as one of the more commendable acquisitions since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure.
The Red Devils celebrated the unveiling of their revamped Carrington training facility last Friday. Tom Heaton, who recalls his early days training at Lyttleton Road and The Cliff, hailed the opening as “a moment in the club.”
He said: “Especially for us as players, we’re in it all the time. So I think we can use that to go again and build and move it forward, and make sure that all the lads are aligned with that.”
Dalot, while not as outwardly expressive as fellow Portuguese Fernandes, is nonetheless determined to keep his teammates on track. “Of course, otherwise we couldn’t be in that group,” he asserted.
“I think the decision was clear because obviously we’re talking about six players with different personalities, but at the same time we need to start demanding more from each other, create this culture where when things are not going in the right direction, we have to be assertive and put it right.
“I think that’s the only way to go to where we want to go.”
Brace yourselves for some stern words behind the scenes.
This article was first published on the Manchester Evening News