Christian Eriksen has thrown his support behind fellow Dane Patrick Dorgu, predicting that the young full-back will thrive at Manchester United following his recent £29m transfer from Lecce.
Since arriving in January, the 20-year-old wing-back has wasted no time making an impression. Dorgu made his debut in United’s FA Cup fourth-round victory over Leicester City, playing 45 minutes in the 2-1 win. He then featured for the full 90 minutes in back-to-back Premier League fixtures against Tottenham and Everton, helping secure a 2-2 draw in the latter.
As United prepared for their latest top-flight clash against Ipswich Town, Eriksen expressed his belief that Dorgu will flourish under head coach Ruben Amorim once he fully settles at the club.
“I think you’ve already seen what he can bring,” Eriksen told United’s official website. “He’s an athletic full-back and a good player on the ball who likes to go forward. And yeah, he’s a very nice guy. There aren’t many Danish guys who aren’t nice! He fits in well.”
Dorgu has already shown promising signs in his early performances, winning 72% of his duels and recording six tackles across his first two Premier League appearances. Primarily an attacking-minded player, he is expected to play a crucial role in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system.
His style of play has even drawn comparisons to Manchester City star Jeremy Doku, but Denmark national team coach Brian Riemer has warned that life at United comes with a unique level of scrutiny.
“He will have to deal with completely different pressure and expectations at United,” Riemer noted.
United legend Peter Schmeichel echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the weight of expectations on Dorgu to perform immediately.
Despite the external pressure, Dorgu remains confident in his abilities and has reassured United supporters about what he will bring to the team.
“I think I’m going to bring a lot of intensity and physique on the pitch,” he said earlier this month. “A lot of energy and running.”
He also highlighted the importance of mental strength, particularly after his experience living alone in Italy while playing for Lecce.
“There’s a lot of talk about football, and you really need to be strong mentally outside of the game as well. When I was in Italy, I lived alone. My family visited me a lot, but you need to be focused and concentrated on football.”
With the backing of his teammates, coaches, and national team figures, Dorgu appears to have the right mindset to succeed at United. As he continues adapting to the demands of the Premier League, fans will be eager to see if he can develop into a key player under Amorim’s leadership.