Ruben Amorim says Rasmus Hojlund’s goal drought is a “team problem” ahead of Manchester United’s Premier League clash with Brighton on Sunday.
Speaking after the Southampton match on Thursday evening, the head coach was asked to comment on his striker and said:
“I think it’s a team problem, not just now, but it’s also from the past.
“We have clearly a lack of goals and threat. When you tread near the opponents, maybe they don’t press you so high; everything is connected. Every player has moments in a season.
“I think when we started this journey together, Rasmus was the player that was always scoring, so he can come back.
“I think it’s more a team problem than a Rasmus problem.
“In the past, United were a team of transition. And we still are. You can feel it. To create chances in the final third, we struggle a lot. But for that, it’s the most difficult moment to train.
“It’s a team that more enjoys waiting for the play and then transitioning and creating problems, so it’s something we have to change. And to have time to change, we need training and to win games.”
Asked about potential moves for players such as Antony, the boss replied:
“I want to keep my players. I don’t know what is going to happen this window, we will see, but he did a good job against Southampton.
“They are our players. We have control [who leaves or stays]. Sometimes it’s harder for the players because sometimes they have information [on their futures]. For me, it’s harder to prepare the game when we lose. When we win, we can manage everything: the expectations, the mood for some players. We just focus on the next game.”
Amorim also discussed the schedule.
“It’s going to be hard until the end of the season,” he said.
“It will be a little bit of a rollercoaster. Then it depends on the time we have to train.
“We are still in the Cup, we have Europa League games, then it’s also important to focus on the Rangers game because if we win, we take two games off our schedule, then we can have a full week.”
Speaking more on players being tired, he said:
“Ugarte was tired because he did a good job against Liverpool and Arsenal. But Ugarte and Fernandes were the best players against Liverpool.”
United again conceded from a set piece against Southampton and was asked about that ongoing problem.
“Against Southampton, it seems like a simple header. Sometimes in the moment, you feel like everything is against you. In the end, things change.
“We have to improve. We played against maybe the best team in the world on set pieces [Arsenal]. This season is going to be a rollercoaster. We have to improve in all the areas of our game.”
Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images
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Red Billy
Red Billy is the managing editor of The Peoples Person, author of three books and totally obsessed with football’s transfer market. Billy still insists Matteo Darmian and Alex Telles could have made it at United given half a chance.
