Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has provided a candid assessment of his wing-backs, revealing he can sense the palpable anxiety surrounding Patrick Dorgu whenever the young Dane receives the ball during matches.
The Training Ground vs Match Day Disparity
Amorim highlighted a significant contrast between the performances of Dorgu and fellow wing-back Diogo Dalot in training compared to their Premier League outings. "When I see them training they are doing so much better than in games," the head coach stated, pointing to a clear mental block affecting their competitive displays.
The situation with Dorgu, Amorim's first signing in a £25 million deal from Lecce back in February, appears particularly concerning. The 21-year-old's composure for Denmark, where he scored a superb goal against Scotland during the recent international break, starkly contrasts with his hesitant showings for United. "You can feel the anxiety every time Patrick touches the ball. I can feel it, the anxiety," Amorim admitted.
Identifying the Pressure Point
Amorim cited a specific example from Monday's 1-0 defeat to Everton, where Dorgu dragged a late chance wide. The manager noted this was an easier opportunity than the one he converted for his national team, underscoring the psychological burden of playing for a club of United's stature.
"I remember the shot against Everton," Amorim reflected. "That was easier than the decision that he had to make [against] Scotland – and I saw [his quality] when he played in Italy. But again, here [United] is different and sometimes the pressure is hard for them in the beginning, but he has time to improve."
While acknowledging that both Dorgu and Dalot are "far from their best," the United boss expressed his belief that they possess significant untapped potential. "I just look at them, and think they have so much more to give. So let’s see this week if we can improve that," he added, indicating a focus on mental preparation ahead of their trip to face Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Addressing Defensive Frailties
Shifting focus to his team's broader defensive issues, Amorim addressed the concerning statistic of 19 goals conceded in just 12 Premier League games. He partly attributed this to his tactical setup, which has occasionally featured a back three including natural full-backs like Luke Shaw and Noussair Mazraoui, or even winger Amad Diallo in a wing-back role.
"One of them is Luke Shaw, sometimes we have Noussair Mazraoui and Luke Shaw, so we play with one centre-back. If you play Amad on the wing-back, [he] is not a wing-back, he’s a winger," Amorim explained, highlighting the system's inherent compromises.
The fundamental problem, according to the manager, lies in the team's collective defensive mentality. "We are being really soft near the box," he conceded, referencing the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest and the loss to Everton, where the winning goal came from the opposition's only shot on target despite their being reduced to ten men after 13 minutes.
"Of course, we need to improve a lot of things. I think the issue is not about the defenders. It’s about the team and the way we feel the danger near our box," Amorim concluded, signalling that shoring up United's defensive resilience remains a primary objective as they prepare for their Selhurst Park test.
