Ruben Amorim has left one of his struggling stars out of Manchester United’s starting line-up to face Crystal Palace after their Instagram account liked a post criticising the manager
Patrick Dorgu has been left on the bench again by Ruben Amorim(Image: Ash Donelon, Manchester United via Getty Images)
Ruben Amorim left Patrick Dorgu out of Manchester United’s starting eleven against Crystal Palace after the defender appeared to ridicule his manager on social media.
Earlier this month, Dorgu’s Instagram account ‘liked’ a post that slated Amorim’s team selection and tactics, fuelling rumours of tension between the pair. The post featured a screenshot of an X comment stating: “Any coach that sees Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes as a viable pivot is one that isn’t serious.”
While there’s no definitive proof connecting Amorim’s decision to Dorgu’s online behaviour, the Denmark international had featured from the start in United’s last two fixtures – a 1-0 defeat to Everton and a 2-2 stalemate with Tottenham.
Ruben Amorim is looking to return to winning ways against Crystal Palace(Image: Getty Images)
Diogo Dalot has been handed the left wing-back role instead against Palace, with Amad Diallo operating on the right ahead of a three-man defence featuring Luke Shaw, Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro. Dorgu, by contrast, finds himself amongst the substitutes.
Speaking to TNT Sports on Sunday, Amorim maintained his selection was purely based on training performances at Carrington. He explained: “It’s the way you train.
“They trained really well, the others too. Then the tactical aspect. Mason Mount is really smart, gives us more possession. He is intense, he can score goals so is one more player to be near the box.”
Patrick Dorgu’s social media account appeared to like a post criticising Amorim’s tactics(Image: Zohaib Alam – MUFC, Manchester United via Getty Images)
This follows Amorim’s admission that Dorgu, who squandered a golden opportunity to level the score against Everton, was experiencing a confidence crisis. “You can feel the anxiety every time Patrick touches the ball. I can feel the anxiety,” the Portuguese manager revealed.
“When I see Patrick playing for the national team, he scored a great goal against Scotland and the decision that he made under pressure was completely different than the decision he’s making in our team. I think it’s the decision, he needs to be calmer playing the game.
“I remember the shot against Everton. That was easier than the decision he had to make when a guy from Scotland was there. I saw it when he played in Italy. But again, here is different and sometimes the pressure is hard for them in the beginning. He has time to improve.”
Dorgu represented Amorim’s first major signing at United, arriving from Lecce for £25million during the middle of last season. He quickly established himself as a key player in the squad, with Amorim regularly utilising him as the team’s sole natural wing-back.
However, spells of patchy form have dampened some of the excitement that greeted his signing. Following his inclusion in five of United’s first league fixtures this campaign, he found himself dropped to the substitutes’ bench for the next four matches.
Though he regained his place in the starting eleven against Tottenham earlier this month, an underwhelming performance against Everton appears to have seen him slip back down the pecking order. United are in need of a win after failing to secure victory in their last three league matches.
Monday’s loss to the Toffees brought an end to a five-match unbeaten streak, the longest under Amorim’s management.
The Red Devils go into the game sitting 12th in the league table. A win could potentially propel them as high as fifth place.
