Patrick Dorgu has completed a remarkable turn around after facing criticism following the Hull defeat before earning UEFA Player of the Match against Sabah.
Man Utd fans wanted Patrick Dorgu sold weeks later he is UEFA Player of the Match
Patrick Dorgu has completed a remarkable turnaround at Manchester United, going from heavy criticism to winning UEFA’s Player of the Match award.
The Danish international impressed at left-back during United’s 4-0 Champions League victory over Sabah, creating the opening goal for Matheus Cunha.
UEFA’s technical observers selected him as the official Player of the Match.
Dorgu shines against Sabah
Manchester United made a comfortable start to their Champions League campaign.
Dorgu’s forward run and low delivery created Cunha’s 27th-minute opener.
Bruno Fernandes, Benjamin Sesko and Lisandro Martínez later completed the 4-0 victory.
UEFA praised Dorgu’s effectiveness in transition and his link-up play with Cunha, making it one of his strongest performances since joining United.
Fans had wanted Dorgu sold after Hull defeat
The mood surrounding Dorgu was very different after United’s 2-0 defeat to Hull City on August 22.
He struggled and was substituted at half-time, prompting angry reactions from some supporters.
Some fans demanded that United sell him before the transfer window closed, while others questioned whether he was good enough in defence or attack.
The criticism was not after the Sabah game
There is an important distinction behind the story.
The calls to sell Dorgu came after the Hull defeat, not after his Player of the Match performance against Sabah.
Following the European victory, the reaction moved in the opposite direction.
Fans now want Dorgu kept at left-back
Many supporters praised Michael Carrick for using Dorgu at left-back and urged him to keep the player in that position.
Fans believe Dorgu’s pace and direct running are better suited to starting deeper, where he can overlap and attack with momentum.
His contribution to the opening goal strengthened that argument.
A dramatic turnaround in a few weeks
The contrast between the two matches is clear.
Against Hull, United lost 2-0, Dorgu struggled, was substituted early and faced calls to be sold.
Against Sabah, United won 4-0, Dorgu started at left-back, created the opening goal and was named UEFA Player of the Match.
One difficult performance no longer defines him.
Dorgu cost United around £25 million
Manchester United signed Dorgu from Lecce for approximately £25 million.
His speed, strength and versatility made him an attractive long-term option on the left side.
The main challenge has been finding the position where he can perform most consistently.
Carrick may have found the answer
Carrick’s decision to start Dorgu at left-back against Sabah immediately attracted attention.
His Player of the Match performance strengthened the case for keeping him there.
However, Sabah were making their first Champions League appearance, so Dorgu will face much tougher tests against stronger opponents.
The Manchester City test will reveal more
A future meeting with Manchester City could provide a clearer indication of Dorgu’s progress.
That match would test his positioning, concentration and one-on-one defending at a much higher level.
A strong performance would make the argument for using him permanently at left-back even stronger.
UEFA’s award remains the key fact
Not every statistical platform rated Dorgu as United’s best player, with some systems favouring Lisandro Martínez.
But the official recognition came from UEFA, which named Dorgu Player of the Match.
From “sell him” to Player of the Match
Football opinion can change quickly.
After the Hull defeat, some Manchester United fans believed they had seen enough. Less than three weeks later, Dorgu helped United win 4-0 and collected UEFA’s Player of the Match award.
The debate is no longer simply about whether United should sell him.
It is now about whether the club has finally discovered his best position.
