Ruben Amorim has admitted Patrick Dorgu has more to give as he looks to improve his game at Old Trafford.
Dorgu has been in and out of the starting team.(Image: 2025 James Gill - Danehouse)
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Ruben Amorim believes he can sense "anxiety" from Manchester United defender Patrick Dorgu when he receives the ball. Dorgu has been in and out of the team this season. He was recalled to the line-up against Tottenham and retained his starting berth against Everton, but was brought off in the 1-0 defeat.
The 21-year-old signed from Lecce in the January transfer window for €30million (£25m), with a potential €5m (£4m) in add-ons, and is still trying to find his feet in Manchester. Diogo Dalot started at left wing-back in wins against Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton during an excellent October, but the Portugal international disappointed against Nottingham Forest.
The mixed form of Dorgu and Dalot means there has not been a settled starter at left wing-back. Amorim was asked whether left wing-back could be a position to strengthen at the end of the season, and said: "Guys, we have time to think about that, I don't know what is going to happen in January.
"What I feel, when I see them training, they are doing so much better than in games. Then Patrick, when I see him playing for the national team, he scored a great goal against Scotland. The decision that he made under pressure was completely different to the decision that he is making in our team, so I just need to understand the context and try to help them.
"I think they are far from the best and they know it. So like a lot of players in our team, like myself, so I just look at them and I think they have so much more to give."
Amorim pointed to that goal Dorgu scored for Denmark against the Scots when asked whether the Dane needed to improve his end product. And the United boss said he senses Dorgu is anxious in possession.
Amorim senses "anxiety" when Dorgu has the ball.(Image: 2025 Manchester United FC)
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"I think it's the decision [making]," Amorim said. "He needs to be calmer playing the game. You can feel the anxiety every time Patrick touches the ball. I can feel the anxiety. You remember the shot against Everton. That was easier than the decision he had to make against the guys [for Denmark] 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."
Another player who Amorim has challenged to improve is Kobbie Mainoo. "This is a team sport. You talk a lot about Kobbie and I have more players in my squad that want to be in the World Cup, so it's a little but unfair. I put Kobbie because he's really good near the box," added Amorim.
"To have a guy like him and Bruno, they can find spaces near the box and score goals, so that was also my idea. I will use Kobbie and the rest of them to try get the team to win.
"I'm not focused on one individual. I want to help all my players and I know how special it is for a player to play at the World Cup, but my job is to focus on the team and win as a team. Kobbie Mainoo is in the same situation as the other guys. If I feel it's the best way to win the game, I will do it."
Amorim was asked whether he considers Mainoo as a starter and responded: "I see him as a starter, like the other guys, but I have to make a choice and in the end, it's not been Kobbie. But in the future, I don't know. I always say the same thing with Casemiro. He was not playing. And then he plays. I just want to win games, I don't care who is playing."
Mainoo has not started in the Premier League this season. The midfielder's only start of the campaign came against Grimsby Town at Blundell Park in the Carabao Cup second round.
The 20-year-old requested to leave on loan in the summer transfer window for the sake of regular minutes, but Amorim blocked the request and explained that Mainoo was competing with Bruno Fernandes. Mainoo has made eight appearances from the bench in the league this season.