Pep Guardiola has reportedly urged Manchester United manager Michael Carrick to make a major selection decision ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash against Ipswich Town, with the Manchester City boss believed to be of the opinion that Patrick Dorgu should be left out of the starting lineup if United are serious about securing their first league victory of the new campaign.
The suggestion has immediately created a huge talking point among Manchester United supporters, particularly because Carrick has continued to show faith in Dorgu and has increasingly viewed the young Danish international as an attacking option rather than simply a traditional left-back. With United desperate to recover from their disappointing 2-0 defeat to Hull City on the opening weekend, Guardiola’s reported advice would represent a significant tactical warning for Carrick as he prepares his team for what could become an important early-season fixture.
Manchester United will welcome Ipswich Town to Old Trafford on Sunday knowing that there is already pressure on Carrick to produce a response. The defeat against Hull was an extremely frustrating result for the club, especially because United controlled large portions of the game without being able to turn their possession into enough clear chances. Hull ultimately punished them through set pieces, leaving Carrick with several questions to answer before his side returns to action. Ipswich, meanwhile, have started the season with confidence and will arrive at Old Trafford believing that they can cause another major problem for United. That makes Carrick’s team selection particularly important, and the question surrounding Dorgu could become one of the biggest decisions before kickoff.
Guardiola’s reported recommendation is based around the belief that United need greater defensive balance against Ipswich. Dorgu has tremendous physical qualities and the ability to attack defenders, but using him in a more advanced position can leave United exposed if the team loses possession. Against an Ipswich side that is expected to be energetic and direct, Guardiola would reportedly prefer Carrick to select a player capable of maintaining a stronger defensive structure while still contributing to the attack. The idea would be to prevent Ipswich from exploiting the spaces behind United’s wide players and force the visitors to defend for longer periods.
The issue is not necessarily whether Dorgu is talented enough to play for Manchester United. Few people around the club would question his potential. Instead, the debate is about where and when he should be used. Carrick has reportedly preferred Dorgu in a more advanced role, viewing his pace, strength and direct running as qualities that can cause problems for opposition defenders. Recent reporting has also indicated that Carrick sees Dorgu more as a winger than a full-back, a decision that has influenced Manchester United’s approach to the left side of the squad.
However, Guardiola’s alleged advice would suggest that the situation requires a different approach against Ipswich. Manchester United cannot afford to be careless defensively after conceding twice from set pieces against Hull. The priority for Carrick must be to make United more difficult to play against while ensuring that the attacking players have enough freedom to create opportunities. If Dorgu is asked to remain on the bench, Carrick could instead select a more natural defensive option and use Dorgu later in the match when Ipswich’s players begin to tire.
That could actually benefit Dorgu in the long term. Starting on the bench does not necessarily represent a loss of confidence from the manager. It can be a tactical decision designed to give the player a clearer role. If United establish control during the first hour, Dorgu could then enter the game with instructions to attack tired defenders, use his pace and provide additional energy down the flank. Such an approach could allow him to influence the game without carrying the same defensive responsibility he would have if he started.
The decision becomes even more significant because Manchester United desperately need a positive result. Carrick has already made it clear that the team must respond after the Hull defeat, while the club’s official team news confirms that the Ipswich match will be United’s first home Premier League fixture of the 2026/27 campaign. The atmosphere at Old Trafford is therefore expected to be demanding, with supporters wanting to see a much more aggressive and disciplined performance from the opening whistle.
Guardiola would understand that pressure better than most managers. Throughout his career, the Manchester City boss has regularly made difficult selection decisions based on tactical matchups rather than simply choosing the biggest names. His football philosophy places enormous importance on controlling spaces, protecting against transitions and ensuring that every player understands his responsibilities when possession changes hands. If he has indeed spoken to Carrick about Dorgu, the advice would likely centre around those principles rather than being a criticism of the young player personally.
One of the biggest problems United faced against Hull was the inability to turn territorial dominance into meaningful attacking pressure. They had plenty of possession, but Hull remained dangerous whenever United lost concentration. That is precisely the type of situation Carrick must eliminate against Ipswich. United cannot dominate the ball and then allow the opposition to create dangerous counterattacking situations. The midfield and wide players must therefore maintain their positions and react quickly whenever possession is lost.
This is where the decision over Dorgu becomes important. His attacking instincts can be a major weapon, but when he moves high up the pitch, another player has to compensate defensively. If Carrick decides to leave him out, the manager could be attempting to create a more balanced structure in which United’s left side remains secure while the midfield provides additional support to the attack. The intention would be to make Ipswich uncomfortable from the beginning rather than giving them opportunities to grow into the match.
The pressure on Carrick is understandable. Manchester United cannot afford to make a habit of dropping points against newly promoted teams if they want to compete near the top of the Premier League. The opening-day defeat to Hull has already placed them on the back foot, while Ipswich have started strongly and will arrive with confidence. Recent previews have noted that Ipswich began the campaign positively, while United are still searching for their first league points.
That makes Sunday’s match a completely different tactical challenge from the opening fixture. Ipswich will likely have studied the problems that Hull caused United and may attempt to repeat them. Carrick therefore needs to ensure that his players are prepared for physical battles, quick transitions and set pieces. The manager cannot afford another performance in which United dominate possession but fail to control the most dangerous moments of the game.
If Dorgu does not start, it will immediately become one of the most discussed decisions of Carrick’s team selection. Supporters will want to know whether the omission is tactical, based on form or part of a wider change to the team’s shape. Some fans may argue that Dorgu deserves another opportunity to prove himself, while others may believe that Carrick needs to prioritize defensive stability after what happened against Hull.
There is also an argument that Dorgu could be more dangerous when introduced from the bench. His physical strength and pace can become particularly effective against defenders who have already spent an hour dealing with Manchester United’s attacking players. A fresh Dorgu entering the game in the final stages could immediately change the tempo and give Ipswich another problem to deal with. Instead of asking him to create danger from the first minute, Carrick could use him as a weapon to finish the match strongly.
For the young player himself, the most important thing would be his response. Dorgu has already shown enough potential to suggest that he can become an important Manchester United player. A temporary move to the bench should not change that. Young players frequently experience periods where they have to adapt to tactical demands, competition for places and the intensity of playing for a club of Manchester United’s size. The strongest response would be to remain focused, work hard and take advantage of the next opportunity.
Carrick also has to be careful not to send the wrong message to the squad. If Dorgu is dropped, the manager must make it clear that the decision is based on the requirements of the Ipswich game rather than a lack of belief in the player’s future. Manchester United need competition for places, and players should understand that performances and tactical requirements will determine who starts each match. That kind of competition can ultimately improve the entire squad.
The situation surrounding Carlos Baleba also makes Carrick’s selection decisions more complicated. The midfielder, who recently joined United from Brighton, has been ruled out for up to three weeks with an ankle injury, meaning he will not make his debut against Ipswich. Mason Mount has returned to training, while Amad Diallo remains unavailable because of an injury suffered in training. Carrick therefore has fewer options than he would have preferred as he attempts to rebuild the team’s balance.
The manager’s ability to adapt could prove decisive. Manchester United’s squad contains players with different qualities, and Carrick must find the combination that best suits the opponent. Against Ipswich, control will be essential, but so will speed and creativity. United need to dominate the ball without becoming predictable, and they must attack aggressively without leaving themselves vulnerable at the back.
That is why the reported Guardiola advice has created such an interesting debate. Whether or not the Manchester City manager has actually made such a recommendation, the tactical argument behind it is understandable. Dorgu is an exciting attacking player, but Manchester United must consider the overall structure of the team. The best starting XI is not necessarily the collection of the eleven most talented individuals; it is the group that provides the best balance for the specific opponent.
Carrick will ultimately have the final decision. He knows Dorgu better than any outside observer and will have seen his performances in training throughout the week. He will also understand exactly what he wants from the left side of his team against Ipswich. If he believes Dorgu can provide the attacking threat United need while maintaining his defensive responsibilities, there is no reason why the youngster cannot start. But if Carrick believes United require greater defensive discipline, leaving Dorgu on the bench could be a sensible tactical decision.
The pressure will be on United from the opening whistle. The club’s supporters expect a reaction, and Carrick knows that another disappointing performance would create even more questions. United’s opening-day defeat was described as an early reality check for the manager, with tactical decisions and the team’s lack of attacking urgency coming under scrutiny. The Ipswich game therefore provides Carrick with an immediate opportunity to demonstrate that he has learned from those mistakes.
If United win convincingly, Carrick’s selection decisions will receive praise. If Dorgu starts on the bench and United dominate, the decision could be viewed as evidence that the manager made the correct tactical adjustment. If Dorgu comes on and changes the game, it could further demonstrate the value of having attacking quality available from the substitutes’ bench. But if United struggle again, the debate over whether Dorgu should have started will inevitably return.
Ultimately, the most important thing for Manchester United is not whether Patrick Dorgu starts or sits on the bench. The priority is winning the match and restoring confidence. Carrick must find a way to make United more aggressive, more disciplined and more clinical than they were against Hull. Whether that means following the reported Guardiola advice or trusting his own instincts, the Manchester United manager knows that Sunday represents an opportunity to change the narrative surrounding his team.
For Dorgu, meanwhile, the message should be one of patience. His Manchester United career will not be defined by one starting lineup. He has the physical qualities and attacking ability to become a major player for the club, but development requires adaptation. If Carrick decides that the best way to beat Ipswich is to leave him on the bench, Dorgu’s response could be just as important as the decision itself.
Manchester United now have no room for excuses. Ipswich will arrive at Old Trafford with confidence, while United will be determined to erase the memory of the Hull defeat. Carrick’s tactical choices will therefore be under intense scrutiny, and the decision surrounding Dorgu could become one of the defining talking points before kickoff. Whether Guardiola’s alleged advice proves influential or Carrick ultimately chooses a different route, the manager knows exactly what is at stake: Manchester United need their first Premier League victory of the season, and they need it with a performance that convinces supporters that the defeat to Hull was nothing more than an early setback.