Rasmus Hojlund berated Diogo Dalot for failing to cross the ball to him in the first half of Man United's 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad.
Comments
Sport
Dalot failed to cross for Hojlund
Dalot failed to cross for Hojlund
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim admitted Diogo Dalot's decision not to cross for Rasmus Hojlund against Real Sociedad "was not the best".
Hojlund went ballistic at Dalot in the 19th minute of the 1-1 Europa League draw after he made a near-post run, yet the right back decided against crossing the ball and the move ended with Patrick Dorgu slicing a shot wide.
£72million striker Hojlund has now gone 19 games without a goal and he did not have a shot against Sociedad on a night Joshua Zirkzee scored United's only goal.
Dalot apologetically slapped hands with Hojlund moments later but the flashpoint was analysed during TNT's half-time coverage of the game, with United legend Paul Scholes describing Dalot's play as "criminal".
"I think it’s hard to say but I’m just imagining Diogo doesn’t know for sure Rasmus has the advantage and he felt that he had a lot of time to think the play," Amorim said. "One thing for sure is they are really anxious to score goals and to win games so they are doing all the best. And sometimes they want the best way in that position but are not deciding the best way in their position.
"Was a clear position, Rasmus did really well, Dalot did really well, the decision was not the best, the important thing is to move on and not fighting. Let’s move on to the next game.
"He (Hojlund) is trying really hard, he gave everything, he made the runs. We know that Sociedad has the high line, he uses his pace to win and to fight.
"And the other thing is he’s going to appear in the right moment, he has to continue to play and not be anxious. In that position with Diogo, he did a great run, was in position, sometimes the ball comes, sometimes it doesn’t.
"So he needs to think in the next way and in the next game."
United seemed on course to return to Old Trafford ahead in the round-of-16 tie until Bruno Fernandes was controversially penalised for handball inside his area, via an intervention by the Video Assistant Referee, in the 70th minute.
Spanish teams have been responsible for United's last six knockout defeats in European competition and Amorim rued United's failure to score a second goal in the first leg.
"Could be better but could be worse because in the last 20 minutes I thought the team were really tired," Amorim admitted. "Until the penalty, I felt the team was in control of the game. After the goal we were so near the second goal with transitions, you felt in the stadium they were nervous.
"But in the end the pen changed a little bit and when momentum changes we get tired more easily, we take the game to Old Trafford and try to win there."
Amorim declined to comment on the penalty award. "I don’t want to talk about that, let’s try to win the second game."