Ruben Amorim has advised Rasmus Hojlund to stay composed despite his ongoing struggles in front of goal during Manchester United’s 2-1 FA Cup victory over Leicester City on Friday night.
United, trailing early at Old Trafford, secured their place in the fifth round thanks to a controversial late header from Harry Maguire, who appeared to be offside. Meanwhile, Hojlund endured another frustrating evening, failing to register a single shot on target.
The Danish forward, signed for £72 million from Atalanta in 2023, has now gone 14 matches without scoring for United. However, Amorim remains supportive, emphasizing the need for patience.
“I won’t criticize his reaction,” Amorim said regarding his sideline interaction with Hojlund. “He has to realize that sometimes his role involves more than just scoring.
He can’t let frustration take over, because the next moment could bring an opportunity.”
Amorim acknowledged Hojlund’s hunger for goals but stressed the importance of team support. “Players from his background always demand more from themselves.
They feel the pressure, they want to score. But he’ll improve. A striker needs quality service, and right now, we’re not helping him enough.”
One bright spot for United was Alejandro Garnacho, who was introduced at halftime and provided a much-needed spark following a sluggish first half.
Reflecting on Garnacho’s response after being dropped for United’s 2-1 win against Manchester City in December, Amorim praised the young winger’s attitude.
“He didn’t need a massive change, just consistency,” Amorim explained. “It’s about training well, absorbing information, and understanding we’re here to help.
He spent five games on the bench, but every time he came on, he looked different—more focused, more responsive.”
Amorim believes Garnacho’s improvement is evident. “It’s small things, nothing drastic, but I’m really happy with his progress.”