Man Utd star Patrick Dorgu breaks silence on bruising Ruben Amorim criticism - 'It hit me'

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Patrick Dorgu admits he was stung by criticism from Ruben Amorim after the former Manchester United boss claimed you could 'feel the anxiety' when the left-back touched the ball during his final weeks at Old Trafford.

The former Sporting Lisbon manager was sacked by United back in early January following a disappointing 14 month reign with results and performances improving under Michael Carrick after the former Red Devils midfielder was handed the reins on an interim basis.

It was back in November that Amorim questioned Dorgu, a £25million signing from Lecce last year, after a 1-0 loss against Everton . “You can feel the anxiety every time Patrick touches the ball,” he said. “I can feel the anxiety.”

Reflecting on those comments almost four months on from Amorim's departure, Dorgu acknowledges that the criticism affected him but also that he used it as fuel to try and improve his performances.

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“It hit me a little bit when Amorim says that because when the coach speaks bad about you [criticises you], it is always going to affect you a little bit. I just took it in the best possible way and tried to improve my game,” the 21-year-old told The Telegraph .

“Even before [Amorim] got sacked in the last couple of games, I started to get into a rhythm as people [team-mates] started going to Afcon. I had a good moment.

“I just had to take that confidence into [the regimes of Darren] Fletcher and Carrick. I just tried to play with a bit more confidence and express myself.”

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Prior to this week, Dorgu had been sidelined since January after sustaining a serious hamstring injury in the 3-2 victory away at Arsenal , a game in which he scored. The Denmark international was one of the standout performers during the early weeks of Carrick's tenure before getting hurt.

Under Carrick, United have all but secured a return to the Champions League next season with the 44-year-old a serious contender for the permanent job. On Amorim's comments, Dorgu admits it came at a time where he was bereft of confidence amid the team's struggles.

“I don’t think that was the word he [Amorim] was looking for,” Dorgu added. “Anxious? I don’t think it was that. I just think I didn’t have any confidence and the team was not in a good moment at that time.

“I think he said it at the wrong time because I played well in the national team. I don’t see how I can play well in one and play bad in the other, and all of a sudden I am anxious.”