Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has publicly expressed his concerns about the performance of Patrick Dorgu, urging the young wing-back to replicate his confident displays for Denmark at the club level. Amorim's surprisingly candid comments come amidst reports that Dorgu liked a social media post critical of the manager's tactics, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
Dorgu, a £25 million signing from Lecce in February, has shown flashes of promise but has struggled to consistently perform for Manchester United. Amorim highlighted the contrast between Dorgu's performances for Denmark, where he recently scored a "great goal" against Scotland, and his displays for United, where he appears to be burdened by anxiety. "When I see them training they are doing so much better than in games," Amorim stated, adding, "You can feel the anxiety every time Patrick touches the ball. I can feel it, the anxiety".
The manager pointed to Dorgu's missed opportunity in the recent 1-0 defeat to Everton as an example of this anxiety. Amorim noted that the chance against Everton was "easier than the decision that he had to make [against] Scotland," emphasizing the difference in Dorgu's composure and decision-making in the two scenarios.
Amorim didn't hold back when assessing the overall performance of his full-backs, stating, "I think they are far from the best, and they know it". He believes that Dorgu and other players in the team have "so much more to give" and hopes to see improvement in their upcoming games.
Adding fuel to the fire, Dorgu was recently spotted "liking" an Instagram post that criticized Amorim's decision to play Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes as a midfield pivot. The post, published by 'mufcunion,' featured a comment from X stating: "Any coach that sees Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes as a viable pivot is one that isn't serious". This social media activity has sparked controversy, with some suggesting that it undermines Amorim's authority.
It remains to be seen how Amorim will address Dorgu's social media activity, but many believe he has more pressing concerns given United's current form. The Red Devils are currently in 10th position in the Premier League after a series of disappointing results. Their recent 1-0 defeat to ten-man Everton was particularly damaging, halting their momentum after an impressive winning streak earlier in the campaign.
Despite the challenges, Amorim remains optimistic about Dorgu's potential. He acknowledged the pressure on young players at a club like Manchester United but believes that Dorgu has "much time" to improve. Amorim stressed the importance of understanding the context and providing support to help Dorgu and other players reach their best.
Dorgu also faces the risk of a one-match Premier League suspension if he receives another yellow card in the upcoming match against Crystal Palace. This adds another layer of pressure on the young defender as he tries to regain his form and confidence.
Manchester United faces Crystal Palace on Sunday, and Amorim recognizes the challenge ahead. "They are a different club [to us] and they are doing things better than us so that is quite simple," he said, acknowledging Palace's current form. With United out of European contention, Amorim is fully focused on improving their domestic performance and guiding the club back up the league standings.
