Manchester United's first pre-season under Michael Carrick gets underway on Thursday, but Patrick Dorgu has already stolen the spotlight with his early training regimen. The Danish wing-back has been putting in extra work away from Carrington, sharing footage of his sessions on social media that have excited fans.
Carrick's First Pre-Season as Permanent Manager
Michael Carrick was appointed permanent head coach after a successful interim spell following Ruben Amorim's departure midway through last season. He took charge of 17 matches, securing 12 wins and guiding United to a third-place Premier League finish, securing Champions League qualification. This turnaround earned him a two-year contract and renewed optimism at Old Trafford.
Pre-season officially begins on Thursday when the first wave of players report for testing and training. However, several key players, including Kobbie Mainoo, Lisandro Martinez, and captain Bruno Fernandes, will be absent due to international duty at the expanded FIFA World Cup in North America, which ends on July 19.
Dorgu's Early Start
Patrick Dorgu, 21, showed enormous potential last season when deployed in an advanced left-wing role. He scored in Carrick's opening game against Manchester City and netted United's Goal of the Season with a stunning 30-yard volley away at Arsenal. His momentum was halted by a hamstring injury, but he returned for the final game of the campaign.
Dorgu has been training with personal coach Kwaku Ohemeng, who has 15 years of experience working with Premier League stars like Adama Traore and Liverpool's Jeremie Frimpong. In the footage, Dorgu wears a retro France World Cup 1998 top and focuses on movement, agility, dribbling, and one-on-one finishing.
Fan Reaction
United supporters have been impressed by Dorgu's dedication. One fan said: “He’s got a serious left foot on him. For me, he should definitely play left-wing for us.” Another compared him to Manchester City's Antoine Semenyo: “When I saw Semenyo posting something like this, I knew he was gonna be another level the upcoming season. Now seeing Dorgu, I have the feeling he’ll be on another level too.”
A third fan criticized former boss Amorim, who often used Dorgu as a wing-back in a 3-4-3 system: “His finishing is nuts, what on earth was Amorim doing with this kid.”
Looking Ahead
Carrick will initially work with players not on international duty, including Dorgu. The club's Premier League opener is away to Hull City on August 22. Carrick will focus on rebuilding fitness, refining tactics, and integrating new signings over the coming weeks.
