Rasmus Hojlund, the 22-year-old Danish striker signed by Manchester United for £72 million, believes he is finally breaking free from what has been a nightmarish spell at the club. Despite scoring only 11 goals for Ruben Amorim’s underperforming side this season, Hojlund has never resorted to making excuses.
His recent goal in United’s emphatic 7-1 aggregate victory over Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League, which booked a semi-final clash with Tottenham, brought smiles back to the faces at Old Trafford. However, Hojlund acknowledges that it has been a disappointing campaign for the Red Devils overall.
“We’re extremely delighted to reach the final,” Hojlund stated, “but we can’t let this overshadow the entire season. Our domestic form has been far from satisfactory. Still, we play to win trophies, and we’re now in a promising position to claim a European one.”
The young striker also reflected on the team’s progress in recent weeks. “Even though our Premier League results haven’t been great, we’ve shown improvement in Europe. In the Premier League, we’re gradually getting better, although we’re aware that we need to raise our game further.”
Hojlund opened up about his own difficult period at the club. “There have been tough times for me. When you go through a goal drought in multiple games, you don’t lose self-belief, but you do feel more down and frustrated.”
To overcome these challenges, he focused on returning to the basics. “I’ve been looking at myself, talking with my teammates, and working on getting into better positions. The tough times make you stronger, and I’ve learned a lot from them. I’ve always known what it means to play for this club. The pressure is huge, but that’s exactly why I’m here – I want to prove myself on the biggest stage.”
With the Europa League final in sight, Hojlund is focused on the opportunity at hand. “This can give us something positive to carry into next season. Winning a trophy is crucial for a club of this stature.”
Next up for United is a home game against West Ham as they aim to improve their poor Premier League standing in the final three games of the season.
Ruben Amorim has received a boost with the return of Amad Diallo, who had been sidelined for three months with an ankle injury. Diallo delivered a stunning cameo performance against Bilbao on Thursday night.
Hojlund had high praise for his teammate. “Amad is amazing. I knew of him before joining United as we both played for Atalanta, though not at the same time. He’s a talented player who came through the Atalanta academy. He’s a great guy, very humble and down-to-earth, which is why he’s where he is today. Last season, he didn’t get much game time, but now he’s showing his quality. He’s so calm and focused on improving, and we’ve seen his abilities shine this season. He deserves all the credit.”