Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim praised Rasmus Hojlund’s standout display in Thursday night’s emphatic Europa League win over Athletic Club, calling it the striker’s best performance under his leadership.
United took a commanding 3-0 lead in the semi-final first leg in Bilbao, overcoming early pressure before capitalizing on Athletic Club being reduced to ten men. Three first-half goals gave the Red Devils a dominant advantage to carry back to Old Trafford.
While Hojlund didn’t find the net himself, the Danish forward played a crucial role—winning the penalty that led to Dani Vivian’s red card and consistently contributing to United’s fluid attacking play.
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“It was the best game he had with me as coach,” Amorim said. “He helped the team a lot—held the ball up, made smart runs. It was a big moment for him.”
Amorim likened Hojlund’s performance to Harry Maguire’s recent resurgence, suggesting it could be a turning point in the 21-year-old’s United career.
“Like Harry, he needs to understand that everything can change. Let’s focus on the next game,” Amorim added. “Sometimes players feel like they won’t recover from tough moments, but football can turn quickly. This could be a lesson in perseverance—for all of them.”