Manchester United wing-back Patrick Dorgu admits he is still getting used to the Premier League and its famously relentless tempo.
The young Dane told United Review (via manutd.com) that he needs to play as much as possible in the English top flight to fully adapt to its rigorous demands.
He said: “It’s a very fast league. It’s a very physical league so I think, yeah, this was my game. I just need to get many more games in the Premier League to get used to the tempo.”
Dorgu, who joined in February from Serie A side Lecce as one of the first signings of the Ruben Amorim era, was brought in to play a very specific role in the Portuguese’s 3-4-3 system.
United were desperately short of options at left wing-back and the 20-year-old was identified as an ideal fit for the position, with heaps of potential to develop as well as skills to offer from the get-go.
On becoming a modern wing-back, he said: “I think I can get there, but I still have a lot of things to improve in my game. But, definitely, I can be and I can get there.”
In the same interview Dorgu identified his attacking output as an area of his game that needs work, and even revealed that he has been studying footage of Alphonso Davies and Theo Hernandez to help him improve.
He has made 12 appearances for United and is yet to register a goal or assist despite looking bright going forward.
He was the man brought down for a penalty which Bruno Fernandes converted in the 4-1 Europa League win over Real Sociedad.
The youngster has joined United at an incredibly difficult time, and being thrown into the limelight as a solution to a problem evident in the squad since Amorim’s first game in charge must have been daunting.
But Dorgu has kept a level head and is starting to feel more at home at the club, where he is repaying the manager’s faith with solid performances.
“I think everyone has helped me really, really much,” he said. “For me, the players, the fans, the coach, everyone has really helped me and pushed me to be better.
“I’m really excited [about the long-term future]. I hope I can develop as much as I an here and help the team in the future and now.”
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Joe Ponting
Joe has spent more than half his life writing about football and all of it following United. As a child he told a doctor his name was ‘Paul Scholes’, but could never pick a pass like him no matter how much he tried.
