Ruben Amorim has plenty of problems to solve at Man Utd after their derby loss to City, but a single wonderkid can solve two in an instant.
The 3-0 loss to Man City condemned Man Utd to 14th place in the league, and the fixtures don’t get any easier.
Their only win so far has come against newly-promoted Burnley, and the pre-season form and optimism has gone out of the window.
Against City, in particular, two players fell remarkably below their own standards. It’s time Ruben Amorim unleashed a wonderkid to solve both their woes.
Dejected Manchester Utd players after the 3-0 loss during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on September 14, 2025
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images
Ruben Amorim’s Luke Shaw/Patrick Dorgu conundrum
It says a lot about the importance of the left wing-back position in Amorim’s system that his first major signing at Old Trafford was Patrick Dorgu.
Dorgu has been a steady presence at that position, rarely getting injured and always working hard, but rarely threatening.
The unfortunate thing is that he finds himself in those threatening positions all the time, but his quality on the ball just lacks too much.
The curse of United is such that the ideal wing-back is playing behind him, as the left-sided centre-back.
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Luke Shaw misses his ideal position, but Amorim, probably thinking about Shaw’s injury-prone body and the demands of the wing-back position, has shifted him to wide centre-back.
However, with just one game per week this season and Dorgu having no obvious backup (Diego Leon is not ready), common sense dictates that Amorim gives Shaw what he wants – play him as the wing-back.
Dorgu can stay as his high-energy backup. That leaves a vacancy at left centre-back, which is where Amorim must unleash the wonderkid who’s the key to making this change successful.
Ayden Heaven can’t be a forgotten star at Man Utd
Amorim needs a physical, left-footed presence at left centre-back, which is why his lack of rotation at that position is a bit confusing.
Shaw, to his credit, has started all four league games this season, but he shouldn’t be, especially if he’s shifted to wing-back in this scenario.
Ayden Heaven exceeded expectations last season when he was thrust into an important role, but he has had to take a step back this season.
Amorim is worryingly proving that none of the youngsters would have gotten a chance last season had it not been for injuries.
At least Chido Obi’s path is blocked by Joshua Zirkzee and Benjamin Sesko, who are genuine options and need games as well.
The same can’t be said for Shaw. If anything, Dorgu needs to be shielded instead of playing every game, so giving Shaw the odd game at wing-back solves multiple problems.
Dorgu gets a backup, which he needs; Shaw gets back to his ideal position, which the team needs; and Heaven can continue his development with senior minutes, which everyone should strive for.
The current stubbornness and lack of rotation are helping nobody.