Patrik Dorjo benched: did a sarcastic post seal his fate at Manchester United?

Amorim’s benching amid a social media storm

Ruben Amorim, Manchester United's manager, left Danish midfielder Patrik Dorjo out of the starting XI against Crystal Palace on Sunday in the Premier League, a decision that sparked questions about whether it was tied to Dorjo's liking of a sarcastic post by his coach on social media.

Dorjo reacted to a post criticizing Amorim's selections, fueling talk about the nature of their relationship, according to the Mirror.

The post that Dorjo liked included a screenshot of a comment on X: 'Any coach who sees Casemiro and Fernandes as a reliable midfield pairing isn't serious'.

Although there is no definitive evidence linking the decision to this interaction, Dorjo had started United's two previous matches: the 1-0 loss to Everton on Monday and the 2-2 draw with Tottenham.

In the Palace game, Diogo Dalot started at left-back, while Amad Diallo played on the right, in front of a back three comprising Luke Shaw, Matthijs de Ligt and Lino Yoro.

Amorim acknowledged that Dorjo is dealing with a confidence issue after his late equaliser miss against Everton, saying: 'You worry every time Dorjo touches the ball. I worry about him.'

Amorim added: 'When I see Dorjo play for the national team, he scored a wonderful goal against Scotland, and his decisions under pressure were very different from those with us. I think the issue requires a calmer touch on the ball.'

He continued: 'The shot against Everton was easier than the Scotland goal; I saw his potential in Italy, but the pressure here is different, and starting is sometimes tough. He has time to improve.'

Punchline 1: If patience is a virtue, Dorjo just earned a PhD in it. Punchline 2: The bench life is real—you get a warm seat and a complimentary foghorn of silence from the stands.