Speaker A
Hello, welcome back. I'm Statman Dave, and today we're going to be diving into the tactics analysis. We're going to be talking about Patrick Dorgu as a left-back. But anyway, guys, if you are new around here, make sure to hit that
Statman Dave analyzes Patrick Dorgu's role as Manchester United's left-back and his impact on breaking low block defenses.
Key Takeaways
- Patrick Dorgu is effective as an attacking left-back when given space on the wing.
- Manchester United’s midfield stability allows Dorgu to push forward confidently.
- Dorgu needs to improve his confidence in taking on defenders and consistency in crossing.
- The tactical system with two number 10s creates space for Dorgu to exploit wide areas.
- Dorgu’s role is vital for breaking down low block defenses and creating goal-scoring opportunities.
What the video covers
- Patrick Dorgu has been deployed as a left-back for Manchester United under Michael Carrick's tactical setup.
- Dorgu operates high and wide, providing width and crossing options against low block defenses.
- The system features two number 10s (Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha) and a number 9 (Benjamin Sesko) to create attacking overloads.
- Dorgu's attacking runs and crossing ability are key to unlocking tight defenses, though his confidence in taking on defenders needs improvement.
- Manchester United's midfield duo of Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans provides excellent ball retention and defensive cover, enabling Dorgu to advance.
- Dorgu completed the most progressive passes and showed good vision for key passes into the final third.
- The tactical tweak contrasts with previous setups where Marcus Rashford played as an inverted winger on the left.
- Dorgu's deliveries into the box require more consistency, especially for near post, back post, and cutbacks.
- The video highlights specific examples of Dorgu's effective crossing and assist potential.
- Overall, Dorgu's role as an attacking left-back is crucial for Manchester United's strategy against low defensive blocks.
Chapters
- 00:00Introduction and overview of Patrick Dorgu as left-back
- 01:17Tactical changes and inverted winger role
- 02:14Dorgu’s role in providing width and attacking space
- 03:14Examples of Dorgu’s crossing and attacking contributions
- 04:20Midfield control by Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans
- 05:27Dorgu’s passing and vision in final third
- 06:30Building attacking overloads and Dorgu’s assist potential
- 07:32Summary of Dorgu’s strengths and areas for improvement
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
Speaker A
subscribe button, like the video, and let's get this party started. Manchester United sealed their return to the Champions League with a professional 4-0 win over Shabba. While Shabba aren't the toughest opponent, they did beat Qarabag to the title in Azerbaijan, with
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Qarabag making it out of the Champions League group last season. Michael Carrick set Man United up in a similar 4-2-3-1 we've come to expect, but there was a big change at left full-back, with Patrick Dorgu coming in for the more
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reserved Luke Shaw. This is a big thing for Michael Carrick in terms of changing things versus different opponents. In the match, Michael Carrick's men were expected to dominate, and they did, with United seeing 58% of possession and nearly four times the amount of xG as
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the visitors. And domination allowed Dorgu to operate high and wide as a winger, which in turn moved the likes of Matheus Cunha inside, allowing the Danish international to provide the width in the final third. I like Carrick's tactical tweaking in recent
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weeks. Manchester United have previously played Marcus Rashford as an inverted winger on the left-hand side, and that's been massive to how United have been playing. He's the only true wide player in the squad that can face up to players
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and beat them with a dribble. But this tactical option is really good. Not only does it see Dorgu playing in a high position with Matheus Cunha inside, but also we get Bryan Mbeumo in a wide area.
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I think from these types of positions, Bryan Mbeumo is a little bit more creative, which frees the likes of Benjamin Sesko to make moves into the box, either from open play or from situations in the transition. I like
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that idea, and Mbeumo as an inverted winger on the right, Bruno Fernandes inside right, Matheus Cunha inside left, and Benjamin Sesko as a nine. It gets creativity in the squad, but also width.
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But, let's focus back on Patrick Dorgu, 'cause United now, in this system and setup, do have two number 10s and a number nine. That is the front three.
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[music] But, more importantly, the width was held by Dorgu. Then, in terms of this setup, why it worked tactically was 'cause Matheus Cunha was arguably narrowing up not only the midfield five of Shabba, but also the defense, which allowed
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Patrick Dorgu a lot of space in the wide areas. I think Dorgu is a player that either needs to make attacking runs inside and be a goalscorer or have space on the wing. He needs to be the overlapper or the player that kind of
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has the space created by one of his teammates, let's say Matheus Cunha, moving into a central area. Where I don't like him, and I think he's quite restricted, is if the opposition double bunker up on him, he plays backwards a
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lot. I'd like to see his confidence grow as a left fullback to allow him to carry and to take players on, because I know he has that in his game. We just haven't really seen it in the Premier League
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yet. But, if the shape and system allows the opposition to be narrowed up by the two number 10s in Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha, allowing Dorgu to get into the wide area and put the ball into the box, that is a very good option for
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Manchester United versus these low deep defenses. So, let's take a look at one of those examples. Dorgu in the final third crossing with space. Manchester United truly dominated the ball and the midfield two of Kobbie Mainoo and Youri
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Tielemans, something we're going to touch on in a second. But, as United build their attack, I love this punchy pass from Youri Tielemans. It's so refreshing to see two central midfielders that can really play in United's team. But, that pass on the
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reverse allows Dorgu to receive in space. I like him in these areas. You can see that the two number 10s have flicked where Matheus Cunha is a little bit more right-sided. Bruno's making that underlapping run, but the delivery
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is great from Dorgu, who finds Benjamin Sesko on the near post that just fires wide. Again, United need to create more chances for the number nine. Dorgu as a left-back in space can do that. And a big reason why Dorgu works as a
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left-back against the weaker teams this season is Manchester United's midfield. United spent big money in the summer, but it's the two cheapest midfielders, Kobbie Mainoo through the academy and Youri Tielemans for 35 million quid, who are really key to Michael Carrick's
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men. Because of how United are playing in these games where they're dominating the ball, now having two ball players in there provides excellent control and balance. With both of them sitting in defensive midfield, protecting the defense and orchestrating possession. In
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fact, Kobbie Mainoo completed the most passes on the pitch, including six out of six long passes. I love some of the balls that he played out wide to Bryan Mbeumo. Again, this system is slightly different than what we've seen with
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Michael Carrick, where Bryan Mbeumo is operating as the winger and can be found on the switch by players like Kobbie Mainoo. Meanwhile, whilst Youri Tielemans was on the pitch, the duo ranked first and second for passes into the final third. This control allows
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Dorgu to progress into the final third. This is a big thing for Manchester United, knowing that both Youri Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo can retain possession. Meanwhile, when possession is lost, Youri Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo are both combative and
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effective defenders, which means United can win the ball back and get it into that wide area. Of course, with the likes of Matheus Cunha or like we saw in that example, Bryan Mbeumo making those overlapping runs, could be quite a
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devastating thing for United. That's something I'd like the likes of Patrick Dorgu and Luke Shaw to work on in these positions and looking for those underlaps in behind the defense. I think he's got an eye for a pass. He
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completed more progressive passes against Shabba than any other player on the pitch. Yes, left-back Patrick Dorgu. And I think from another development perspective, if Dorgu long-term is going to be Manchester United left back, which he could easily do, he does need to improve the
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consistency of his deliveries. When the ball is in the wide areas, Dorgu needs to work on deliveries to the near post, back post, and cutbacks. We saw a really nice move following a carry to the byline that led to a really good cutback
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for Matheus Cunha that didn't quite get his shot away. But as well, what I like about it is he can play that ball, but also Matheus Cunha attacks the back line and attacks that near post area. Dorgu at the moment has the ability to find
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those types of passes into that zone which we saw against Shabba. So, we pick up the play with Shabba in the transition, but Bryan Mbeumo is very aware of that ball back on the inside and makes a vital interception and
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instantly plays forward. It's good touch and turn from Benjamin Sesko who ships the ball wide out to Bruno Fernandes.
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This is the benefit of having an attacking left back. It's so basic, but United haven't had this for quite a while now. You simply can create a 3 v 2 versus the opposition's defense. We can see both Matheus Cunha and Bruno
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Fernandes, the two number 10s, drifting to the left-hand side. This overloads the opposition which allows that overlap from Patrick Dorgu who gets his head up before the ball comes to him and drops a perfect ball into the penalty area for
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Matheus Cunha to give United the lead. Great left back play from Dorgu. Dorgu definitely has the ability to get more assists from the wide areas when given the space. In fact, if you go back to last season, Man United versus Burnley,
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Dorgu got a very similar assist for Benjamin Sesko in Darren Fletcher's match as Man United manager. We pick up the play with United in p
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similar to what we've just previously seen. [music] Dogan receives wide, pops a one-two inside with Manu Ugarte is freed, and then delivers into the penalty area for Benjamin Sesko's wonderful finish at Turf Moor. I think Dalot has the quality to find these
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types of passes, but just needs to improve on that repetition and consistency to be a really good left-back against the low blocks. And the stats back it up. Against Shabba, only Bruno Fernandes created more chances than Dalot, with the Danish
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international completing the most crosses, winning the most jewels on the pitch, and ranking first amongst United players for progressive carries and clearances. So, just to round things off, let's talk about his defensive work and mobility at left full-back. Still an
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area of his game that he really needs to improve. Right now, Dalot isn't ready to play left-back against top-quality wingers, but that's okay, cuz Man United have got Luke Shaw to play in those big games. Also, I love Dalot as a
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left-winger in these big matches. His work rate and his ability to defend the full-back on the inside is fantastic and allows United to create really good momentum on the counter-attack knowing they've got two players that can defend.
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But back to Dalot in this left-back position, there's parts of his game I like and there's parts of his game that he does definitely need to improve. I think at times he's a little bit over anxious or aggressive in certain
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situations. There was a moment where Shabba were building down the left-hand side, Dalot just got completely the wrong side, should be goal side, was the other side of the defender, and got a booking. I think that's something he needs to improve his
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awareness. I think in the jewel 1 v 1 he's very, very good. He won four out of his four tackles against Shabba, and he's got that aggression and physicality to really win the ball in those types of areas. And I think one of the biggest
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things is mobility. That could be massive for Manchester United. The issues this season what we've seen in terms of United's pressing structure in this kind of 4-2-4 shape is the consistent thing that I keep seeing is the space that the opposition's winger
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gets when the, you know, when you're squeezing, when you're playing kind of narrow and being aggressive to one side, the out ball is always there to the winger. Or alternatively, let's say the winger's, you know, being quite aggressive in his positioning, the full
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back. The big thing United struggled with in certain games is closing that space down. But, in fact, Doku's mobility is really good in these situations. He's good at jumping and was really aggressive against Shabba, and I like that in the final third. There's
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definitely holes defensively for Doku. I think dealing with the opposition when they're crossing from the far side. I think as well being switched off in certain moments. There's definitely areas for improvement there. But, tactically, I like how he solves one of
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United's biggest problems in the press. United need to jump their full backs in pressing situations. [music] That is just fact. When the ball's going down the left-hand side, your full back's got to jump. Ball's going down the right-hand side, again, the right back's
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got to jump. And vice versa, and you have to cover the space, you know, rock over, and the defense needs to move over. This is a big thing for the Man United just need to learn under Michael Carrick. But, I do think with Doku, you
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could be more effective in the press, which will allow more control in games for United, knowing that they can squeeze high, especially on the left-hand side of the pitch with Doku as a full back. And the final reason why
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Doku should be Carrick's left back against low blocks is because it allows United to get another attacker into the side. I won't lie, I really like Doku as a left winger. I think his penetration on the back line is needed. His
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off-the-ball runs in those areas is very good. But, he would do much better in those areas with a flying left full back that can hold the width and stretch himself. Yes, it'd be great to have two Patrick Dokus in the side. But, I do
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think against low blocks, Doku's physical attributes are less [music] useful in condensed spaces. That being areas where the likes of Mateus Cunha, uh Bruno Fernandes, or Marcus Rashford excel in. You want Doku potentially in that wide area to stretch the opposition
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with his pace in behind. And I think it gives Carrick great options. I think when you look at the partnerships here, yes, we've got an inside forward in Mateus Cunha that can just sit in that central channel, get the ball, and play
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make, and become a partnership with Bruno Fernandes as two number 10s. I like that idea with Dorgu, but also like we saw with Luke Shaw versus Everton who had a cracking game going forward.
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Marcus Rashford can provide great outlet for United as a winger. Yes, you've not got as many players on the inside channel, but what United could do from these types of positions is overload with maybe Bruno Fernandes again. The
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likes of Bryan Mbeumo tucks in. You're probably more suited to having Diogo Dalot on the overlap, Mazraoui dropping out, but having that kind of partnership as a of an inverted winger in Marcus Rashford that is going to drive you
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inside and the role that Luke Shaw played in the game against Everton simply overlapping in the final third would be good. Again, the big thing with Dorgu, you don't want [music] him two v one or you don't want him in one v one
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situations really at the moment. You want him in space. That's where he's done his best work from a creative sense. So, having someone like Marcus Rashford that can receive and drive up the opposition with Dorgu on the overlap, I like that idea for creating
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chances for Benjamin Sesko. Which is a big benefit of playing Dorgu as a left back means that Sesko could be in the team as well as the likes of Matheus Cunha and of course Rashford getting in there as well. An extra attacker with a
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left back that is more of an aggressive player. I also like the relationship in certain moments that Man United had on the right-hand side of the pitch against Chabab with of course Mazraoui playing more as a inverted wing-back than a
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traditional full-back. It allowed Bryan Mbeumo to hold the width in the final third with Mazraoui coming inside creating another player in there. This setup could work with Marcus Rashford wide and and Dorgu as an overlapping full-back. Yeah, sort of
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bringing a different game to United. You've got one player that's moving inside, you've got width from Bryan Mbeumo, and then Dorgu's just going to overlap. That tactical option could open teams up. It creates a situation where you've got a lot of players in central
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areas, plus you've got the controls we mentioned before of Youri Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo. And just looking at Dorgu as an overlapping left back, it's not only important in terms of him getting into space and delivering the ball when
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he can get his head up, but as well, it's a really good decoy and we saw that in United's second goal. We pick up the player of Youri Tielemans driving through midfield who had a great game in his Champions League debut for United.
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He ships the ball wide and Dogu is inverted. Matheus Cunha is out wide. We can see this with Rashford and Dogu playing on the left wing for United. As he carries into the final third, we can clearly see United's attacking structure
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with their front five, Bruno Fernandes inside right, Bryan Mbeumo on the wing. As he ships the ball to Matheus Cunha, he goes on the overlap. This pulls the defender out of the space which creates the ball inside for Youri Tielemans. The
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balance from Tielemans here is an absolute joke. I can't believe how good this is. The way that he moves his body around, pivots, and plays the ball back to Bruno Fernandes to score is fantastic. But it all started from Dogu
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driving the ball forward, overlapping to allow Matheus Cunha that little bit of space to find the pass inside. And I think that idea of Matheus Cunha or Marcus Rashford using Dogu or using the balls inside to Bruno Fernandes or Youri
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Tielemans or even a McTominay or Kobbie Mainoo would really good for Manchester United. But as well, as I mentioned before, I really like the role of Bryan Mbeumo against Shabba playing as more of a winger, more of a creative option. And
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in fact, he created the Benjamin Sesko goal. Again, with Dogu at left back, Sesko basically is definitely in the 11 which I think is a good thing for United. So we pick up the players Bryan Mbeumo has just turned over the ball. He
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ships it to Kobbie, he moves it wide to Bruno Fernandes. What I like about this is not only do we see Bryan Mbeumo in a wide area creating, but in certain moments like with Bruno Fernandes drifting left, he took up this central
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position. And I like this kind of play here, instantly receiving, getting his head up, and finding Benjamin Sesko in behind the defenses. Like I said previously, United have been criminal when feeding strikers. Having Bryan Mbeumo playing a slightly different,
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more creative role allows moments like this. Ball in behind the defense, Sesko rounds the goalkeeper with some great footwork and finishes off the move. I do think this setup for Man United is good.
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It allows different tactical options. It means that United are harder to, you know, set up against cuz you've got options with the left-hand side being Kony Adogu, you've got Bryan Mbeumo on the right-hand side with Mazraoui, Bryan Mbeumo with Diogo Dalot. There's lots of
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different relationships that are building. And I think football is all about relationships. When we look at what United are building with this kind of this tactical setup, you've got some really good options. You've got, as I mentioned, Bryan Mbeumo and
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uh at Mazraoui inside, you've got the two number 10s in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, plus Youri Tielemans moving from deep, and then you got that relationship between Dogu and Cunha. All to create chances for one guy, Benjamin
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Sesko. United are moving forward. They dominated in their return to the Champions League, and Dogu was a massive part of that. Statistically played really well. In fact, if we look at the average positions, Dogu was clearly higher than Mazraoui on the other side.
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The relationship between the pair of full-backs is starting to become quite good, and I like the options that United now have in their squad. A much better performance from Mazraoui playing a role that was more similar to his days at
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Ajax under Erik ten Hag than he has done at Man United so far. But anyway, guys, what do you think? Will Dogu be the low block breaker that Michael Carrick needs? Get into the comments below. I've been Statman Dave. Subscribe if you're
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new, and we'll see you later. [music] Thanks for watching. If you've enjoyed this video, why not check out some more content on the Statman Dave YouTube channel.
Topics:Patrick DorguManchester UnitedMichael Carrickleft-backtactical analysislow block defenseChampions Leagueprogressive passesattacking full-backfootball tactics
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