Patrick Dorgu has praised the positive influence of Michael Carrick at Manchester United, even though the manager has only been in charge for a short period.
Carrick rejoined the club last week on interim basis until the end of the season, replacing Ruben Amorim who was dismissed after only 14 months in charge.
The former Middlesbrough manager guided the Red Devils to an impressive 2-0 win over Manchester City last weekend in his first match in charge.
It was a remarkable result for a team that previously struggled to earn victories in recent outings, while they also finished with a clean sheet.
“We’ve got a new coach and it’s been really good for us. We have had really good workouts with him and everyone is positive”, Dorgu revealed.
“You could also see that from the first minute, how we came out to the fight and everyone was ready.”
Bryan Mbeumo, back from action at the recently concluded 2025 African Cup of Nations tournament, fired them in front after a devastating counterattack.
Dorgu added a second later in the second half after great buildup by Matheus Cunha.
The Red Devils had three goals disallowed for offside and also struck the bar once, while they forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into several saves in the clash.
“It hasn’t really changed, but it’s just the intensity and the way he wants us to play. He just wants us to be forward-looking all the time, and you could see that here.
“It’s not about changes, but about the mentality as a group”, the Denmark international added.
Manchester United will hope their derby win is a sign of things to come and not just a ‘new manager’ bounce syndrome.
They face another tough challenge next weekend, this time against league leaders Arsenal, hoping to close the gap to Liverpool in fourth place.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
