'Lack of threat' - Ruben Amorim gives honest verdict on Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund
Man Utd have struggled for goals this season and Rasmus Hojlund has been poor in attack.
Ruben Amorim insists he still has a lot of faith in Rasmus Hojlund despite his continued struggles for Manchester United in front of goal. Hojlund has not scored in his last 16 matches across all competitions and a report this week claimed United coaches are losing patience with the striker.
Hojlund has scored just two goals in the Premier League this season, with seven goals across all competitions. He has failed to find the back of the net in 27 of the 33 United matches he has appeared in this season.
It was hoped the arrival of Amorim in November could see the 22-year-old embark on the same transformation Viktor Gyokeres enjoyed under him at Sporting, though Hojlund has only completed 90 minutes five times under the new head coach and has been substituted on ten occasions. Amorim is adamant the Danish international can still become a reliable goal-scorer for his side and says they must work harder to bring the best out of him.
Manchester United aren't helping Rasmus Hojlund
Hojlund was hooked during the 2-2 draw with Everton at the weekend to be replaced by teenage striker Chido Obi, though Amorim attributes his struggles in front of goal down to a lack of quality service.
"I think it’s clear, we as a team aren't helping Rasmus," he said ahead of tonight's clash with Ipswich. "We don’t create a lot of chances. We have a lack of threat and you can feel it in the games. 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’re defending low and sometimes the opponent is not afraid of transitions. So I have this feeling also as a coach that we are not helping the strikers.
"I think Rasmus 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 young to be the no 9 and play all the time, sometimes it’s hard. It’s everything together. The context. We have to look at Rasmus as a player - he has pace and he has the technique, he scores some goals that are really hard to score. Sometimes he didn’t choose the better run, sometimes he’s so anxious to touch the ball because he goes a lot of minutes without the ball and he moves away from the goal where he’s supposed to be, especially in the final third. We address that in training and sometimes it has to be the confidence of the player but especially the way we play.
Asked if Hojlund was performing well in training, he added: "Yes I see it in training because we make exercises near the goal and he has the ability and he has already showed it here. It’s more of a team thing than a Rasmus thing. If we improve Rasmus will improve and I have that feeling."