The reputation of Ruben Amorim, who was once considered one of the most promising young coaches in Europe, has suffered serious damage during his 14-month tenure at Manchester United.
Former Sporting CP coach not only did not help the "Red Devils" improve their form but also made the team even worse, closing the previous Premier League season at the lowest position in club history.
When Amorim left Old Trafford earlier this month, his image was somewhat doubted. But the next 2 matches under Michael Carrick made that departure even more difficult to justify.
In a short time, Carrick liberated Man United with very basic things. He used the familiar tactical scheme with the players and put them back in their preferred positions. Those seemingly simple changes created immediate effect.
In contrast to his predecessor, Amorim often imposed rigid systems, rarely adjusting according to squad capacity. That approach made a already difficult job more complex, and ultimately led to his loss of his seat.
Under Carrick and the current coaching staff, Man United looks like a completely different team. They play football more coherently, more confidently and show the spirit that fans expect.
Amorim is likely to return to the coaching bench soon in the future, but what is happening at Man United shows that his time at Old Trafford can hardly be seen as a step forward in his career.
And if to find a clue to the above change, Patrick Dorgu is the answer.
Dorgu is about to celebrate the first anniversary of moving to Man United from Lecce for a fee of £25 million. However, for most of his time at Old Trafford, the 21-year-old player has not shown himself to be capable of competing for a position.
The Danish player almost became a miniature image for 14 months of disappointment under Amorim - a player who was out of sync, lacked confidence and could not make a significant impression.
Dorgu has not scored any goals in his first 26 Premier League appearances for Man United. When Amorim left the club earlier this month, his belief seemed to have run out.
However, everything changed quickly. The beautiful long-range shot at the Emirates that helped Man United take a 2-1 lead was not only a turning point moment of the match, but also Dorgu's third goal in the last 6 Premier League matches. A week earlier, he was also the one who scored in the 2-0 victory over Manchester City.
The difference lies in belief. For any player, confidence is always the key factor. Dorgu is showing that being given opportunities at the right time, in a suitable system, can completely change the destiny of a young player.
He was forced to leave the field in the final minutes due to a muscle injury, causing Man United to worry. However, it is noteworthy that just a month ago, Dorgu's absence almost did not create any regret at Old Trafford.
And now, Man United really hopes that injury is not serious, because they are finally seeing the value of the 25 million pound contract.
He is an extremely important player. In addition to goals, in terms of danger, fitness and quality of play, Dorgu has performed excellently on the wing with Luke Shaw. It's great to see him smile happily" - Carrick commented on Dorgu after the victory over Arsenal.
