66 touches, 11 duels won – Manchester United star’s “very good” hidden skill was on full display vs Real Sociedad

One Manchester United star’s “very good” hidden skill was on full display as Rúben Amorim’s men demolished Real Sociedad in the Europa League round of 16 on Thursday evening.

Manchester United cruised into the Europa League quarter-finals with a dominant 4-1 win over Real Sociedad, powered by a Bruno Fernandes hat-trick and a late strike from Diogo Dalot.

With the tie level at 1-1 from the first leg, Sociedad struck first at Old Trafford as Mikel Oyarzabal converted an early penalty. However, United responded swiftly, with Fernandes equalising from the spot after Rasmus Højlund was fouled.

Fernandes put United ahead early in the second half with another penalty after Patrick Dorgu was brought down, before Sociedad’s night worsened when Jon Aramburu was sent off for a reckless challenge on Dorgu.

United kept up the pressure, and Fernandes sealed his hat-trick before Dalot added a fourth in stoppage time. Rúben Amorim’s side now face Olympique Lyonnais in the quarter-finals.

Dorgu was fantastic vs Sociedad

While Fernandes will get most of the plaudits after yet another brilliant performance and his hat-trick, Dorgu was also fantastic.

The Danish international has missed United’s last two domestic games due to a red card against Ipswich, and will miss the upcmoing fixture against Leicester as he serves the final match of this three-game ban, but that did not stop him having a fantastic performance against Real Sociedad.

The left wing-back, starting his fifth game for United, won 11 of his 14 attempted duels on the night, earning an 8.5/10 for his display on Thursday evening.

He had 66 touches on the night, making two clearances and four recoveries, also having nine touches in the opposition box and having five shots, winning a penalty.

Dorgu’s hidden skill on full display

However, the most significant part of the 20-year-old’s game against the La Liga side was how often he managed to win fouls.

Dorgu won six fouls on the evening, including for Fernandes’ second penalty, and this caught the attention of The Athletic journalist Laurie Whitwell, who noted that Dorgu is “very good” at winning fouls.

Dorgu won fouls both in the defensive third and attacking third, showing that he knows how to relieve pressure when United are under the cosh by winning those free-kicks while also being clever enough to apply the same knowledge in the attacking area.

Read More: Bruno Fernandes breaks Europa League record after Manchester United hat-trick vs Real Sociedad

It’s not a skill that fans may have been immediately aware of when Dorgu signed for United in January, but it’s certainly a hidden one that Fernandes and others can make use of going forward.

There was some criticism regarding his final ball, but there is little doubt that the young left wing-back will learn as he adapts to playing English football.

For the most part, he has hit the ground running, and it is not a coincidence that one of Amorim’s best nights at Old Trafford came when he had two wing-backs on their natural sides.

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