Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim delivered a stinging appraisal of wingback Patrick Dorgu, a player whose “anxiety” in possession is palpable in the eyes of his manager. The Danish defender was swiftly dropped to the bench for the trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday.
The February 2025 arrival always seemed to be an odd fit for United. Dorgu was signed with the specific intention of playing as a left wingback despite showing his best form for Lecce as a right winger. The 21-year-old has even looked more comfortable as an orthodox left back in a four-man rearguard for the Denmark national team, leaving Amorim to lament his superior performances at international level.
“You can feel the anxiety every time Patrick touched the ball,” United’s head coach damningly outlined, specifically referencing Monday’s 1–0 defeat to Everton. “I can feel the anxiety.”
Earlier this month, Dorgu slotted in a wonderfully measured equalising for Denmark against Scotland, letting the ball roll across his body before applying a firm finish into the bottom corner. Amorim compared that goal to the volley he blazed over against Everton as a glaring example of his wildly varying decision-making abilities.
“He needs to be calmer playing the game,” the United coach sighed. “You remember the shot against Everton. That was easier than the decision he had to make against the guys from Scotland.
“He made a great decision, and I saw it when he played in Italy. But here is different, and sometimes the pressure is hard for them in the beginning, but he has time to improve.”
