Ruben Amorim candidly expressed his awareness of Patrick Dorgu’s anxiety each time the young wing-back receives the ball for Manchester United, emphasizing that the 21-year-old has ample time to develop his game.
Dorgu’s performances have fluctuated since he became Amorim’s first signing from Lecce for £25 million in February. When questioned about Dorgu’s form—and that of teammate Diogo Dalot—Amorim highlighted a stark contrast between the players’ training sessions and match-day performances.
“In training, they consistently showcase their potential, yet during matches, that quality seems to dissipate,” Amorim noted. “Take Patrick, for instance. When he played for his national team, he scored a brilliant goal against Scotland this month. The decision-making he demonstrated in that moment was worlds apart from some choices he’s made here. You can feel the anxiety every time Patrick touches the ball, and I feel it acutely.”
Amorim referenced a missed opportunity during Monday’s 1-0 defeat to Everton, pointing to Dorgu’s failure to capitalize on a chance that was arguably easier than the decisive moments he faced in international play. “That shot against Everton went wide, and yet he had shown his quality in Italy. Here at United, the pressure can be overwhelming for young players, but I believe he has time to grow.”
“Understanding the context is crucial as I look to support both Dorgu and Dalot,” he continued. “They know they’re not at their best, as do many others on the team, including myself. I see enormous potential in them and hope to harness that in the coming week.”
As Amorim prepares for Sunday’s match against Crystal Palace, he was asked about the team’s troubling defensive record, having conceded 19 goals in 12 Premier League encounters. He explained, “One of our defenders, Luke Shaw, often plays out of position, and sometimes we include Noussair Mazraoui. This results in us occasionally fielding only one dedicated centre-back. If we deploy Amad Diallo as a wing-back, he’s more of a winger than a defender.”
Addressing his team’s defensive frailties, Amorim acknowledged a need for improvement. “We’ve been far too lenient near our box. In our recent matches, especially against Nottingham Forest—a 2-2 draw—we allowed too many crosses and failed to apply pressure at critical moments. Against Everton, even when they went down to ten men just 13 minutes in, we conceded the decisive goal with their only shot on target.”
“Clearly, there’s much work to be done,” he remarked, emphasizing that the issues are not solely on the defenders but the entire team’s approach to situations that threaten their goal. “It’s about how we perceive the danger near our box.”
