Ruben Amorim bites back at Roy Keane over Man Utd signing

Tom Weber

Updated: 9 Feb 2025 04:42 CST
4 min read

Ruben Amorim, Roy Keane, Man Utd — © IMAGO

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has hit back at Roy Keane after his criticism of new signing Patrick Dorgu.

The Danish youngster was the only major incoming transfer Man Utd managed to pull off in January due to the club's Profit and Sustainability situation. Although young centre-back Ayden Heaven also joined, Dorgu was the marquee arrival and cost a sizeable €35 million.

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The 20-year-old was signed to finally fix Man Utd's left-back problems. Luke Shaw has been mostly injured for the second season running and Tyrell Malacia was offloaded to PSV on loan, so there was a clear opening for Dorgu to come in and make that left wing-back position in Amorim's system his own.

However, the head coach had other ideas. Dorgu made his Man Utd debut in the FA Cup against Leicester on Friday and started the game at right wing-back. The Red Devils endured a dire first half and went into half time 1-0 down, with Bobby De Cordova-Reid's goal developing on Dorgu's side.

Man Utd would ultimately come back to controversially win 2-1, but the new signing was not involved in the two goals as he was hooked at the break.

Amorim vs Keane

Analysing the first half, Man Utd legend Roy Keane tore into his former side and criticised Amorim for his decision to start Dorgu on the right. "There is a lack of belief, lack of confidence," he said on ITV.

"They've brought new players in, you're thinking he's going to play in his position and he's playing right wing-back. You think, 'is that unfair on players?'

"And you look at the urgency for the goal, it's given away cheaply, people not staying with their runners. I just look at it from United's point of view and think, 'my goodness, is this what it's come to?'"

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Speaking after the match, Amorim bit back at the critics and pointed to the fact that Dorgu, though a left-back by trade, has primarily played on the right wing this season.

"I was trying to help Dorgu to manage the game," the head coach said. "He's had three training sessions so it was hard for him. He played a lot of times for Lecce on the right and the left.

"That's one of the characteristics we pay a lot of attention to. He was a little bit anxious with the first touch of the ball. This is a different league for him, different speed of the game but he did well.

"He has pace, he has strength and he is going to improve a lot. We as a team need to play better to help the new guy perform at the right level. If you have seen the history of Dorgu for his last team, he played a lot of games on the right and we have to have wingers who can play both sides like [Diogo] Dalot.

"So I think it is a really important thing because sometimes you need a left foot on the right side to come in and connect in a different way and sometimes you need a right foot to connect and cross more balls."