It’s been 24 hours since Manchester United suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of their rivals on Sunday.
Whatever you think of the legitimacy of Erling Haaland’s second-half goal, it was a nightmare performance for Michael Carrick’s side. Maybe Solskjaer’s curse has returned.
United have won just one game in the league so far this season and the positivity that enveloped Old Trafford towards the end of the 2025/26 campaign has faded. It looks like a repeat of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ruben Amorim and Erik ten Hag. Maybe that’s what fans need to get used to.
Will Manchester United come back? Well, it’s hard to have a clear vision for the future right now. However, if they want to go to the next level, they need to improve their defense. Full-back Patrick Dolgu had a particularly poor performance on Sunday afternoon.
Patrick Dolgu’s big question at Manchester United
Fans have known throughout the summer that Manchester United needed to sign a left-back. Louis Hall was the top target but the Englishman was forced to stay after a summer in which Newcastle sold all their star players and lost their manager. He has now signed a new contract at St James’ Park.
Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde has also been regularly linked with the club, while Club Brugge’s Joaquin Sais is also an option. However, there was no movement late in the transfer window.
Judging from the first few weeks of the season, this appears to be a mistake. In fact, there is always a worry about what will happen if Luke Shaw gets injured. You see, he was unfit for the derby and Dolgu’s performance when he came on as a substitute was extremely worrying.
This has not been the case at all since he arrived at Manchester United as a left-back. Amorim has used him as a left wing-back and so far under Michael Carrick he has played part-time as a winger. This is a big problem. Going forward, the Danes are not terrible. remember That The goal against Arsenal last season? He is a threat.
However, this is Manchester United, the great Manchester United. This team boasts some of the greatest wingers in Premier League history, mainly Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs. For fans, it’s insulting to see Dolgu running down the flanks.
The problem is that while he’s inconsistent as a forward, he’s not a defender either. City games prove this.
Dorgu vs Manchester City | |
|---|---|
Minutes played | 90 |
touch | 68 |
Dribbling | 0 |
lens | 0 |
key pass | 1 |
Accurate passing | 37/41 (90%) |
defensive contribution | 9 |
Tackle | 3 |
ball recovery | 3 |
duel won | 7/12 |
foul | 3 |
Before being sent off, Dolgu gave Foden the freedom to attack from the right side of the court, and his goal also had a certain error. He was too slow to pass to Josko Gvardiol and the ball deflected cleverly away from him, allowing Haaland to score at the back post.
So, what is the solution? Well, there are some young options coming up.
Manchester United’s Patrick Dolgu solution
When analyzing United’s young defenders, many will point the finger at 19-year-old Harry Armas.
If Carrick wants to try something new, he looks like the most likely option. The teenager played the final 18 minutes of last week’s 4-0 Champions League win over Sabah.
However, there is another solution and his name is Diego Leon. You may not know much about him as he only joined from Paraguayan club Cerro Porteno a year ago for around £6 million.
It’s a left-field deal, but signing South America’s best young talent is now a possibility. It’s done, you know?
The 19-year-old has already made one appearance for Paraguay and, while yet to play a competitive game for the Red Devils, caught the eye with the U21s last season and has proven to be a regular starter in the Premier League’s second tier.
So, what is his background? Well, in Words from Como scout Ben Martinsonhe is a “powerhouse” for full-backs. What stands out most is his physical attributes.
As Martinson outlines, Leon possesses “a broad, compact frame that allows him to dominate duels with real aggression despite his young age.”
He continued: “The combination of his speed, initial acceleration, ability to change direction quickly and ability to break into tight areas off the dribble is what makes him so good at the senior level.”
Considering the intensity and physicality of the Premier League, this bodes well for United and the players.
However, what is the use of defense? He’s physically strong and has the tools to do that, but given his age there’s still a lot to improve on, particularly his awareness and how he directs his aggression. He’s also a predatory left-back, which means he needs to figure out when to push forward and when to hold his position. All this is to comply with job discipline.
Nonetheless, this is a young talent with huge potential. His skills stand out, which is why he was signed by Manchester United. It’s a shame he’s yet to feature for the senior team, but given Dolgu’s form and Shaw’s injury record, that might not be long.