Rasmus Hojlund breaks silence on nightmare season and hails ‘wonderful’ Man Utd star

Manchester United No.9 Rasmus Hojlund endured a difficult season at Old Trafford, much like Ruben Amorim’s side, but the 11-goal striker is looking forward and insists they will continue to improve

Rasmus Hojlund believes he is finally starting to emerge from his Manchester United nightmare to prove he can be worth £72million. The 22-year-old Danish striker has never hidden behind excuses after scoring just 11 goals for Ruben Amorim’s struggling team this season.

But the smile was back on Old Trafford faces after he got on the scoresheet as United booked a Europa League date with Tottenham with a 7-1 aggregate hammering of Athletic Bilbao. However, Hojlund still admits it’s been a disappointing campaign for the Reds.

He said: “We’re very happy about being in the final, but it can’t take away the focus from the entire season. Domestically it has not been good enough – but then again we play to win trophies and we are in a good position to win a European one.

“I think we’ve been improving in the last few weeks, even though the results in the Premier League have not been overly good, just in Europe. But in the Premier League we are gradually getting there – although we know we need to get better.

“Obviously there have been hard times for me. When you go without a goal for a lot of games – I wouldn’t say I lost self-belief, but you’re going to be a bit more down and a bit more frustrated.

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“It’s been about going back to basics and focusing on what I can do to try and improve myself. I will check myself, chat with my team-mates, get in better positions…these sorts of things.

“It is the hard times that make you better and you learn a lot from them. I have always said I know what this football club is all about and it’s a lot of pressure, but that is why I’m here. I want to show myself on the biggest stage.

“We are focusing on the opportunity we have here. That can give us something from this year to take into the next season – because winning a trophy is always important for a club this size.”

United now face West Ham at Old Trafford as they attempt to improve their poor Premier League position in the last three games of the season. Amorim has been boosted by the return to action of Amad Diallo, the young winger who has been sidelined for three months with an ankle injury.

Amad produced a stunning cameo performance against Bilbao on Thursday night – and Hojlund said: “Amad is wonderful. I obviously knew him a bit before I came here because we played at Atalanta. Not at the same time, but they talked of him. He’s a great talent, what a player.

“He came through the Atalanta academy. He’s a very good lad, very humble and down to earth. That’s why he is where he is now.

“Last season he didn’t really have a lot of game-time but now he has shown himself and he is so calm and focused on improving. We know his qualities and this season they have been shining through. Full credit to him.”

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