Manchester United Shifts Focus to Left-Back Position

Manchester United have reportedly shifted their focus from signing a winger to a left-back due to Patrick Dorgu and his exploits in attack.

When the Dane first rose through the ranks of Lecce, he was considered one of the best rising full-backs in Italian football.

But when the youngster was promoted to the first team, he was often used as an inverted right-winger in a 4-3-3 system. After joining Man Utd in January 2025, he was naturally played as a wing-back in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 formation, but Michael Carrick’s switch to a four-man backline reignited the debate over his best playing position.

Carrick Convinced Patrick Dorgu Can Be a Solution on the Left Wing

When Carrick replaced Amorim in January, he immediately decided to field Dorgu as a left winger in his 4-2-3-1 formation, in a move that raised eyebrows, first because it came at Matheus Cunha’s expense, and second because deploying classic wingers has become a rarity in the age of inverted wingers.

Nevertheless, the 44-year-old won the bet, with Dorgu scoring in the first two matches of his tenure, helping United beat their crosstown rivals Manchester City 2-0, and eventual league winners Arsenal 3-2. The Dane even won the Goal of the Year Award for his superb strike against the Gunners.