Patrick Dorgu was absent from Manchester United’s EFL Cup clash with Brighton & Hove Albion because Michael Carrick had given the left-back a rest.
Patrick Dorgu and Luke Shaw were United’s only senior options at left-back, but neither featured at Old Trafford. Michael Carrick instead started Noussair Mazraoui on the left, while Harry Amass was named among the substitutes.
Luke Shaw had missed the previous two matches with an injury, making it his third consecutive absence. Dorgu’s situation, however, was different and was not linked to a fresh injury.
Patrick Dorgu was rested after Manchester derby
Manchester Evening News journalist Steven Railston revealed, as quoted by Utdreport before the Brighton game that Dorgu had been left out as part of the manager’s plans to rotate his squad following Sunday’s Manchester derby defeat to Manchester City.
“I’ve been told Patrick Dorgu has been given a rest this evening. Sounds like Carrick is set to make a few changes after the Manchester derby defeat,” Railston said in the lead-up to the tie.
Patrick Dorgu had featured in the derby, where Manchester United suffered a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford despite Manchester City playing with 10 men for more than an hour following Phil Foden’s dismissal.
Carrick therefore decided against starting the Denmark international again just a few days later. With Shaw still unavailable, the manager had to turn to Mazraoui to fill the position, while Amass provided another option from the bench.
United were already dealing with limited options in the position, deciding to manage Dorgu’s minutes particularly significant.
Manchester United faced a humiliating 2-3 defeat to Brighton and went out of the Carabao Cup.
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