Ruben Amorim, the manager of Manchester United, has openly discussed Rasmus Hojlund’s recent goal drought and loss of form, highlighting the team’s overall struggles and the need for improvement. In a pre-match press conference ahead of the upcoming game against Ipswich, Amorim provided insights into the team’s performance and the challenges faced by Hojlund.

Amorim began by addressing the team’s inability to create meaningful scoring opportunities, stating, “I think it’s clear, we as a team we are not helping Rasmus. We don’t create a lot of chances. We have a lack of threat and you can feel it in the games.” He elaborated, “Sometimes we are in the final third but you don’t feel like we are a very dangerous team, and you feel it also when we are defending a little bit more low, sometimes the opponent are not afraid of transitions.”

When asked about Hojlund’s performance, Amorim acknowledged the young striker’s potential but emphasized the need for the team to improve. “I think Rasmus [Hojlund] has a lot of potential. If we improve the way we play the game he will have more opportunities to score. He came here very young and when you’re very young to be the No 9 and play all the time, sometimes it’s hard. It’s everything together. The context.”

Amorim further elaborated on Hojlund’s strengths and areas for improvement, saying, “We have to look at Rasmus as a player. He has the pace, he has the technique, he’s scored some goals that are really hard to score. Sometimes he doesn’t choose the better run. Sometimes he’s so anxious to touch the ball because he passes long minutes without the ball, and he moves away from the goal where he’s supposed to be, especially in the final third.”

“Yes,” Amorim replied emphatically. “I see it in training, he has the ability, it’s more a team thing than a Rasmus thing. If we improve, he will.”

Ruben Amorim

The discussion then shifted to the injury status of key players. When asked about Luke Shaw’s return, Amorim said, “No no [I don’t know when he’ll be back]. He’s doing his rehab, but we don’t have a date for him yet.” Regarding Mason Mount, he added, “Not specifically, no. I think he’s closer than Luke Shaw, but we don’t have a specific date for return.”

Amorim was also queried about the team’s intensity and confidence, particularly in light of his previous comments about players running like “mad dogs.” He responded, “I think they’ve improved, the data shows that, but we can do much better. Sometimes the confidence is like they train very well, but in the game they are not so confident, it’s hard in certain moments so they can’t do [what they do in training].”

Addressing the recent redundancies announced, Amorim emphasized the need for improvement in recruitment and team performance. “I think we have to show. It’s easy for me to be here and say all the pretty stuff. We have to improve recruitment, it’s crucial, we have to make the team better. We have to be in Europe and not in our position during the season, and that’s all. They are paying the price for our lack of success and I can say nothing now to convince the fans and staff things will get better.”

Amorim also spoke about Patrick Dorgu’s start at the club, noting, “I’m happy with Patrick because he has the abilities we look for, he has the physicality, the technique, he has a lot to improve but you can see in the difficult moment you can see good things in Patrick.”

On the pressure the players are feeling, Amorim commented, “They are in a bubble, they don’t feel that pressure [of people losing their job]. But every time we lose, when they don’t perform, there’s a lot of people on social media putting a lot of pressure, and then they go to the pitch and the training and try to to fix things not in a good way, they think too much, they suffer a different pressure. Things said by former players, they take it so personal.”

Regarding the redundancies, he added, “I’m focused on my job. If you look at our team, you’ll see that we have a lot of things to improve in my department. So I’m focused on improving my performance within the club. We have a lot of people evaluating in all departments the best ones who should stay and those who should go, so I’m just focused on my part. I have to improve my performance as manager of this club.”

Manchester United’s struggles mirror those of other top European clubs, including the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer (MLS), who have faced similar challenges with young talent and team cohesion. The Red Bulls have recently made strategic changes in their coaching staff and recruitment processes, aiming to improve their performance and return to competitive form. This serves as a reminder that even the best teams can face setbacks and require significant adjustments to regain their footing.

In conclusion, Amorim’s candid assessment of Manchester United’s performance and Rasmus Hojlund’s struggles highlights the need for a collective effort to improve the team’s dynamics and results. As the season progresses, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if the team can turn things around and achieve their goals.