Manchester United’s players are loving life under Ruben Amorim in this pre-season so far, and no player quite personifies that feeling more than the one who’s been called a “beast” by the captain.
The 4-1 win against Bournemouth was the best in terms of pure scoreline, but anyone who saw Man Utd in their previous two games could tell that this performance was in the making.
Ruben Amorim’s men hunted in packs, and their intensity and physicality were in stark contrast to the same group of players who got battered by Bournemouth in the league last season.
That difference in physicality and intensity was exemplified by the nickname “beast”, given by Bruno Fernandes to his teammate.
Bruno Fernandes celebrated “beast” Patrick Dorgu
Patrick Dorgu was already on a high after fine performances in the first two pre-season games, but he somehow found a way to be even better in the third.
Dorgu was imperious against Bournemouth, using his physicality to brutal effect as Bournemouth players were outfought and outrun when he was on the pitch.
He scored once and assisted Hojlund’s goal, but even if he hadn’t, the general level of play was borderline world-class as he got every single little detail right.
While Cunha was absent, Dorgu was effectively a one-man wrecking crew on the left side, dominating both phases of the game.
Amorim praised Dorgu after the game, and Fernandes’ nickname for him perfectly encapsulated his playing style.
Posting on Instagram after the game, Fernandes celebrated Dorgu’s performance, saying, “What a game beast”, tagging Dorgu in the process.
Man Utd’s team spirit vindicates Ruben Amorim
This is just the latest example of a more closely bonded Man Utd dressing room, that, by Luke Shaw’s admission, has been toxic at times in the past.
Dorgu’s words on Diego Leon also reinforced the feeling that healthy competition and overall improvement now take precedence over personal profile and glory.
There will be no complainers, only doers, and the only complaints that come will be to wake someone up when they are letting their standards drop.
All this, of course, comes with the caveat that it’s just pre-season, and only three games so far, but there is a certain method to United’s victories that hasn’t always been visible in the last decade.
They are working towards a proper system, and every player knows their role. Dorgu is thriving in his.
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