Man Utd have a headache with left wing-back under Amorim
The left wing-back was key in Ruben Amorim's 3-4-3, but Dalot and Dorgu failed to deliver; this flank was exploited by Forest, Gibbs-White's goal.
In the 68th minute at City Ground, Diogo Dalot left the field in the context of Nottingham Forest's most dangerous attacks penetrating the left wing. Before that, he was too passive in the situation leading to Morgan Gibbs-White's goal. From a small detail, Man Utd revealed a big problem: the left wing-back is a difficult hole to cover.
Left wing-back in Ruben Amorim's 3-4-3
Ruben Amorim once joked that not even the Pope could persuade him to abandon the 3-4-3. His adherence to this structure has shaped a summer transfer window worth over £200m, with new recruits recruited to serve the philosophy. In this system, the wing-back is the lifeblood: providing width, supporting the attack and taking on defensive responsibilities, requiring the physical foundation to get forward and back up and down the pitch.
On the right, Amad Diallo has been a reliable presence throughout October. But the opposite side is a big question mark as Amorim still doesn't have the most suitable players.
Dalot was pulled away from his strengths.
Dalot is effective on throw-ins and is highly regarded for his versatility, always ready to take on any role asked of him. However, his performances have shown that he is significantly more comfortable operating on the right. After a series of inconsistent performances – forgettable against Sunderland, worst player in the first half against Liverpool (though improved late on), steady against Brighton and then regressing against Nottingham Forest – Amorim has been forced to move Dalot to the left wing as a safe haven for experience.
At the City Ground last weekend, Dalot was substituted in the 68th minute. If the bench had had a better plan, the decision might have come sooner. Forest repeatedly made inroads into Dalot’s flank, and in the build-up to Gibbs-White’s goal, he reacted too passively. Given his current form, it remains to be seen whether Dalot will keep his place in the upcoming game against Tottenham.
Dorgu needs time, Amorim chooses certainty
Patrick Dorgu – a £25m signing from Lecce – has been benched after showing signs of immaturity. The Denmark international is still developing, and with the team needing to win, Amorim has prioritised Dalot’s solidity. United believe Dorgu has the ability to become a top player, but the time it will take him to reach that potential is another matter.
On the current scale, neither Dalot nor Dorgu are ideal choices for the left wing-back role – a position that requires both good spatial awareness when defending and precision in overlapping and crossing when attacking. When one link is not up to standard, the entire 3-4-3 axis will stop.
Staffing map and urgent needs
In the summer, Man Utd overhauled their attack with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo taking on the 'false 10' role in a 3-4-3. At the time, experts pointed out that not recruiting a new central midfielder was risky. While midfield is certainly a long-term priority, the immediate problem is on the left wing: the lack of a wing-back who can make an immediate impact.
With what has been shown, Man Utd will likely have to prioritize signing a new left wing-back at the end of the season – the type of player who does not need time to perfect to meet the harsh requirements of the system. Only when there are enough suitable people will Ruben Amorim's philosophy operate smoothly, instead of constantly being targeted by opponents for the weakness on the left flank.
