MU should not expect to compete for the championship with Dalot and Dorgu

Dorgu has not shown any confidence in MU's defense.

Manchester United are showing signs of recovery after a difficult start to the season. The three points earned in round 9 helped MU enter the top 4. The season is still long, but the "Red Devils" have the right to dream big. However, without upgrades in defense, especially in the names Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu, MU can hardly dream of competing for the Premier League title.

Two very important full-backs

In a three-center-back formation, the role of the two wingers (wing-backs, full-backs) plays an extremely important role. Sadly, this is the weakest link in the current MU defense.

Against Brighton in the early morning of October 26, Dalot was deployed as a wing-back in Amorim’s 3-4-3 system. Although MU won, the Portuguese defender did not play very impressively. He was among the lowest-rated players in the team (6.7 points).

It's a sad reality. Dalot joined Manchester United from Porto in 2018 with the expectation of becoming a top right-back. At 26, Dalot has made over 150 appearances for the "Red Devils", but his performances have often been "average".

Dalot has good speed and spirit. However, Dalot's overlapping, crossing and coordination in the final third of the field rarely bring efficiency, especially when he has to play in a 3-4-3 or 3-5-2 formation, prioritizing the role of wing-back. In other words, Dalot is not good at playing wing-back, a very specific position in a system of three central defenders.

Dalot's major weaknesses lie in his defensive ability and work rate. In big games, Dalot is often exploited by the opposition's fast and technical wingers.

His superficial marking, inaccurate positioning and indecisive handling made Dalot a “weak point” in MU’s defensive system. When having to play in a 3-4-3 formation under Amorm, this player rarely created peace of mind for fans.

In the 2025/26 season, Dalot is expected to average just 1.8 tackles per game – a figure that pales in comparison to the league’s top full-backs. With a full-back who can’t provide solidity at both ends of the pitch, United will struggle to build a defence strong enough to compete for the title.

Dalot has not played well since the beginning of the season.

Meanwhile, Patrick Dorgu is a new player recruited by Manchester United from Lecce in the 2024 winter transfer window. At the age of 20, Dorgu was initially appreciated for his speed, physical strength and ability to play versatilely on both wings.

However, Dorgu's youth and lack of experience are major obstacles that prevent him from becoming a mainstay of MU. In MU's three consecutive victories recently, Dorgu has been on the bench. Coach Amorim prefers to use Amad Diallo as a right winger rather than Dorgu.

This is a worrying reality for a true wing-back, who can play well on both wings like Dorgu. Before losing his starting position at MU this season, Dorgu showed enthusiasm but also made many mistakes in defense. His indecisive handling or wrong decisions at important moments made him a target for opposing teams.

For example, in the match against Brigton, Dorgu, despite coming on in the second half, was easily passed by the opposing player and committed a dangerous foul, almost receiving a red card at the end of the match. Dorgu also lacked coordination with his teammates. MU's defense has been inconsistent over the years, and a young player like Dorgu quickly found himself in trouble.

MU needs to upgrade

Manchester United’s problem obviously lies not only with Dalot or Dorgu, but with the overall defensive system. But as analyzed, in the three-center-back formation, the role of the two wingers (wing-back, full-back) plays an extremely important role, even deciding success or failure.

Dorgu is not a reliable choice for MU.

To compete for the title, MU needs two wing-backs who are both offensive and defensively sound and maintain consistency throughout the 38 rounds. Teams like Manchester City and Arsenal have full-backs who are not only strong in defense but also contribute greatly to the attacking play. Meanwhile, Dalot and Dorgu, despite their potential, have not yet reached this level.

If Manchester United are to return to the top, a defensive overhaul is a must. Dalot or Dorgu could be a good backup option, but the team needs a more classy pair of defenders capable of competing with the biggest names in the league.

In the context of rivals like Manchester City or Arsenal increasingly perfecting their defense, MU can hardly dream of the throne if they cannot solve the defense problem. The "Red Devils" dream of winning the championship will remain just a dream, unless they make revolutionary changes in the near future.

Source: https://znews.vn/mu-dung-mong-dua-vo-dich-voi-dalot-dorgu-post1597056.html