Ruben Amorim moved to an unbeaten run of seven games as Manchester United beat Leicester City 3-0 to wrap up a good week after they booked their Europa League quarter-final spot
20:56, 16 Mar 2025Updated 21:10, 16 Mar 2025
Garnacho celebrates
Manchester United are now seven games unbeaten(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Ruben Amorim's Manchester United sealed a good week by cruising to a 3-0 win over Leicester City.
Hot off the back of an impressive performance and result in the Europa League on Thursday, when United booked their quarter-final place with a 4-1 win over Real Sociedad at Old Trafford, the Red Devils were back in Premier League action.
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Unbeaten in their last six games – a run that stretches back a month to the day – United travelled to the King Power Stadium with confidence and they made a start which proved as much.
Early pressure from the visitors transpired into the game’s opening goal as Rasmus Hojlund ended his 22 game goal drought with an excellently taken finish on 28 minutes. However, the game struggled to really get going with United looking the brightest on the counter-attack.
Heading in ahead at half-time, United looked good value to go 2-0 up when Alejandro Garnacho struck, shortly after Ayden Heaven had been stretchered off injured, but the goal was disallowed for offside. However, Garnacho did get on the scoresheet minutes later, as his strike from inside the box proved too powerful for Mads Hermansen to keep out.
Bruno Fernandes again got in on the action in the final minute of normal time as he whipped home an effort from 20 yards to seal the three points. Here, the Daily Star Sport looks at what Amorim learned from Sunday night's win.
Hojlund ends drought
Twenty-two games Hojlund has waited for a goal, but the Dane finally found the back of the net as he opened the scoring just before the half-hour mark.
Hojlund broke clear of the Leicester defence after receiving the ball on the halfway line. While his initial touches were far from perfect, Hojlund made his way into the area and produced a well-taken finish on his weaker right foot.
Amorim needs his No.9 in form and Hojlund has shown signs in recent games of getting closer to ending that drought. It seemed that it was going to take one deflecting in off his backside to break the duck, but it instead came with a confident strike.
Rasmus Hojlund
Rasmus Hojlund ended his goal drought
Ayden Heaven
Ayden Heaven’s arrival from Arsenal in January for only £1.5million has looked to be exceptional business with the 18-year-old producing assured displays in his early days at Old Trafford,
After making his first Europa League start on Thursday and passing with flying colours, Heaven was given his maiden Premier League start. Looking immense on the left-hand side of the back three again, Heaven’s night was cut short after he was stretchered off with a worrying injury.
Heaven appeared to have sustained an injury to his lower left leg or ankle while shepherding the ball out of the ball. Amorim will now be holding his breath that the teenager’s issue isn’t as serious as it first seems.
Ayden Heaven
Ayden Heaven was impressive again before he was stretchered off with an injury
Substitutions
Amorim was forced into an unwanted change when he withdrew Heaven, and teased changing the system by bringing on midfielder Toby Collyer as the teenager’s replacement.
Collyer did slot into the back three, but following Garnacho’s goal minutes later, Amorim took advantage of the two-goal lead to shuffle the pack.
A triple change saw Casemiro, Joshua Zirkzee and debutant Harry Amass introduced for Manuel Ugarte, Christian Eriksen and Garnacho, seeing Noussair Mazraoui drop into the backline, pushing Collyer into his more familiar midfield role and moving Bruno Fernandes behind Hojlund. The changes saw Amorim move to secure the result.
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Support from the stands
United fans have always backed their manager through thick and thin, and despite enduring their worst-ever Premier League season and Amorim’s tenure far from successful so far, the Portuguese was serenaded by the away support.
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The visiting fans broke out into renditions of their new song for Amorim and were relentless in singing it throughout the majority of the first-half. The same chants could be heard again in the second-half as the travelling support made their position clear on their manager.