Amorim’s Bizarre Claim On Man United Starter: ‘I Feel Anxiety Every Time He…’

Ruben Amorim. (AP photo)

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has admitted he feels ‘anxiety’ every time full-back Patrick Dorgu ‘touches the ball’ in a match. The claim, bizarre because managers rarely reveal they don’t feel comfortable with a starter, was made ahead of United’s Premier League clash against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Dorgu was Amorim’s first signing in a £25.3million (nearly Rs. 300 crore) move from Lecce in January. He has started eight of United’s 12 games in the left wing-back position this season — which is a crucial role in Amorim’s five-at-the-back system, requiring running pace, stamina, and attacking threat.

“You can feel the anxiety every time Patrick touches the ball,” Amorim said. “I can feel the anxiety. 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,” he added.

Amorim didn’t stop there. He went on to claim that both Dorgu and Diogo Dalot, who played left wing-back on the other four occasions, are ‘far from the best’.

“What I feel when I see them (Dorgu and Dalot) training, they are doing so much better than in games. So I just need to understand the context in trying to help them. I think they are far from the best, and they know it – like a lot of players in our team and like myself.”

Amorim didn’t rule out reinforcing the position further in the January transfer window, saying ‘we have time to think about that’.

‘Something will change if we don’t win’: Amorim

Amorim is under extreme pressure, having overseen some really staggering losses for his team, including against a 10-men Everton side last week.

“We need to win now,” said the United boss. “If not, something is going to change and we know that. So that is my feeling. For me, it’s the urgency of winning. It’s not good to be Manchester United not winning. There is no time here. That’s why I’m so frustrated all the time. I don’t want to have that feeling. My life is so much harder when I have that feeling. We need to understand that this club is different from any other club. So let’s do everything to avoid this.”