Rasmus Hojlund is currently enduring a tough spell at Napoli but he has the backing of Antonio Conte after an excellent start with the Italian champions
Rasmus Hojlund has been praised for recent Napoli performances despite not scoring in four games
Rasmus Hojlund has been praised for recent Napoli performances despite not scoring in four games
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Antonio Conte has spoken highly of Rasmus Hojlund despite the fact he has now failed to score in four straight Napoli matches. The 22-year-old joined the Italian champions on a season-long loan this past summer and was able to make an immediate impact.
Hojlund netted on his debut against Fiorentina before grabbing a brace in the Champions League against Sporting CP with both of those strikes assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.
He also scored against Genoa just four days later, but that was his last goal for Napoli with Hojlund failing to find the back of the net between October and November international breaks.
Playing for Denmark last month, the Manchester United loanee contributed to four goals which certainly shows he is not lacking confidence. With De Bruyne out injured, creating chances for him appears to be the issue at Napoli as he has managed just four shots in as many games.
That seems to also be the stance of Conte as the Napoli boss praised Hojlund's effort levels "I didn't mind today, he was perhaps the best player on the pitch," he told DAZN, via Tutto Mercato Web, of his display at Bologna.
"He held his ground and fought. It's inevitable that we had some things prepared, we should have supported him more. We missed him." Considering what he said about the team as a whole, that was quite a positive verdict on Hojlund's behaviour with Napoli believed to have later held crisis talks over Conte's future at the club.
"Something needs to be done, because I don't want to accompany a dead person, I am the first eventually and take responsibility," the Italian admitted after Napoli's defeat.
"At the first negative situation we broke up, I will also talk to the club about this aspect.
Antonio Conte of Napoli
Antonio Conte of Napoli(Image: (Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images))
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"I don't see alchemy but everyone thinking about their own problem. Heart transplants aren't possible. Each of us must rediscover the spirit, the heart, the wickedness. Things are done but we have to see how they are done.
'It's one thing to do your homework, it's another to play in a team with very high expectations. Everyone is thinking about their own backyard, I had already seen this and so I want to speak well with the club."
Hojlund potentially returning to United became a topic discussed by many after Benjamin Sesko's injury, but under the clause of his temporary switch, that cannot happen. Ruben Amorim will therefore be hoping the knee issue suffered by his summer signing is not serious.
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