Ruben Amorim explains bizarre Patrick Dorgu decision after hauling off new signing
Dorgu did not play in the role many expected him to feature.
Ruben Amorim has defended his decision to play new Manchester United signing Patrick Dorgu on the right on his debut against Leicester City.
Amorim was eager to bring in a natural wing-back during the January transfer window to provide some natural balance to his preferred 3-4-3 formation with Dorgu brought in from Italian side Lecce in a deal worth an initial £25million.
He was named in the starting XI on Friday night as United booked their place in the FA Cup fifth round with a nervy win over the Foxes, sealed by Harry Maguire’s injury time header.
With Luke Shaw still injured and Tyrell Malacia not fitting the bill – shipped out on loan to PSV Eindhoven – Dorgu was expected to fill the void on the left.
The Denmark international was widely expected to slot into that left wing-back role, enabling Amorim to shift Diogo Dalot back over to his more natural role on the right.
Dalot continued on the left on Friday night however with Dorgu occupying the opposite flank.
The new arrival showed some bright moments in the first-half but was replaced at half-time, with Amorim later suggesting his lack of training with his new teammates this week led to that decision.
Pushed on why Dorgu played on the right, Amorim defiantly insisted the 20-year-old is perfectly capable of playing on both flanks.
‘He played a lot of times for Lecce on the right and the left,’ Amorim told a press conference.
‘That’s one of the characterises we play a lot of attention to. He was a little bit anxious with the first touch of the ball. This is a different league for him, different speed of the game but he did well.
‘He has pace, he has strength and he is going to improve a lot. We as a team need to play better to help new guy perform at the right level.
Asked if United fans can expect to see more of Dorgu on the right, Amorim continued: ‘If you have seen the history of Dorgu for his last team he played a lot of games on the right and we have to have wingers who can play both sides like Dalot.
‘So I think it is really important thing because sometimes you need a left foot on the right side to come in and connect in a different way and sometimes you need a right foot to connect and cross more balls.’
