Man Utd Fans and Bruno Fernandes Lose It With ‘Useless’ Dorgu vs Man City

· GiveMeSport

The Manchester United fanbase were frustrated with their side after their defeat to Manchester City, with one player coming under fire.

Manchester United had a man advantage for 67 minutes of the Manchester derby and failed to make it pay, as Manchester City struck the early-season blow over their city rivals.

Erling Haaland 's 60th-minute finish settled a 1-0 win for Man City's 10 men at Old Trafford, and by full-time the frustration in the stands had found a target — one whose own captain had already made his feelings clear on the pitch.

Phil Foden 's dismissal in the 23rd minute for a kick out at Bruno Fernandes should have handed United control. Instead, City — who have now lost just one of their last 19 Premier League games, and who spent north of £200m rebuilding their midfield — looked the likelier side with 10 men.

Marcus Rashford , back in a derby for the first time in three years, struck a free-kick against the post. Kobbie Mainoo hit the same woodwork after the break, and Bryan Mbeumo was denied late by Gianluigi Donnarumma as Michael Carrick 's side fell to a second league defeat.

Whilst earlier he had been involved in a flashpoint with Foden, the United captain was clearly frustrated with a fellow teammate.

"This has been abysmal game management from #mufc," wrote Manchester Evening News reporter Samuel Luckhurst on X . "City have looked likelier in the final third, despite being a player light, and too many United players look totally fazed. Fernandes giving Dorgu a rollocking."

The Manchester City strike gave his side the lead in the Manchester derby but it was subject to lengthy VAR check which left viewers confused.

Supporters did not need much encouragement after that. "Dorgu just offers absolutely nothing," one posted. "Release Dorgu," said another. A third was blunter still: "Rashford and Dorgu were both useless on the left flank. Luke Shaw may be older, but he contributes more to the game than Dorgu."

Not all of it landed on the player. "I'm not even angry at Dorgu, I'm angry at the decision makers for leaving us with mid-table full-backs this season," one supporter wrote — a theme picked up by plenty who felt a left-back should have arrived in the summer.

Dorgu finished with nine defensive contributions, six tackles, 12 ground duels, 69 touches and a 90 per cent pass accuracy (36/40) which shows, defensively, he was solid.

Going the other way, it was certainly far thinner: no successful dribbles, one accurate cross from four, one key pass, an xA of 0.03 and possession lost 10 times.

That gap is the argument. Dorgu scored in last season's home win under Michael Carrick while playing further forward, and registered four goals and four assists in the Premier League as a left-winger — a run that included five goal contributions in seven games before a hamstring injury, including back-to-back goals against Arsenal and City.

With Rashford restored to the left and no cover behind him, he has been pushed back into the role that suits him least. The reaction he took on Sunday was aimed at the player and the complaint underneath it is about the squad. With no depth in that role, the decision for Carrick is whether to stick with Dorgu or look for another solution.

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