Rasmus Hojlund has broken his goal drought as Man Utd striker and backed himself to succeed under Ruben Amorim as the club eye attacking reinforcements this summer.
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Rasmus Hojlund
Rasmus Hojlund is back among the goals for United as the club consider options in attack this summer
It didn't quite beat the first time, but Rasmus Hojlund's 13th Premier League goal for Manchester United still carried plenty of emotion. The Danish striker has banished the doubters once again to end his barren run in front of goal.
It took Hojlund 15 games to register his first league goal for United last season. He scored against Aston Villa on Boxing Day to begin a run that turned a famine into a feast. But his second campaign has been even tougher than his first, and as the 22-year-old bore down on goal at the King Power Stadium on Sunday night, it had been more than 22 hours since he last scored for United in any competition.
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It didn't look like it when he used his weaker right foot to slam a shot into the far corner of Mads Hermansen's goals, sparking jubilant celebrations amid teammates and United staff, a reminder of the popularity of the £72million striker at the club. Relief was etched on Hojlund's face, and he admitted that the goal had meant a lot to him.
"I don't think it was like the first time when I scored against Aston Villa, but obviously I was very happy and still am," he said. "I see it as a good step on the way, but I just want to keep improving and keep being better.
"I know I'm not finished the article or what you say over here, but I just want to keep going and keep becoming even better and I'm sure I'll get even better and score even more goals if I just focus on that."
Hojlund insists his role in the team isn't solely about goals but admits his eighth of the season will give him a confidence boost for the run-in. That double on December 12 against Viktoria Plzen was the end of a run of five goals in four games and shows that Hojlund can certainly get on a hot streak.
The Europa League is now the prize United are chasing this season and Hojlund has saved some of his best performances in red for the European stage. Winning that competition will secure United a route back into the Champions League, which is vital for financial reasons as much as footballing ones.
It would certainly offer Ruben Amorim a considerable boost to his budget ahead of a summer window in which he is expected to reshape his squad to fit his 3-4-2-1 system. Hojlund will be aware that competition for his place will likely increase, with another striker near the top of his wishlist this summer and Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen and Liam Delap all under consideration.
Hojlund is adamant he has the tools to thrive under Amorim, however. He backs his pace as an asset in the head coach's system and with the demands he places on his centre-forward.
"He wants me to stretch the pitch. I think that's quite obvious. Get me into the channels and keep the centre-backs occupied," he said. "That's what I'm trying to do. I think I got a good amount of speed and that's what I'm here for."
Hojlund's goal drought stretched to 21 games, but he had just 21 shots in that run, which shows the service hasn't always been there. He accepts he has to raise his own levels, and after coming close to scoring against Real Sociedad last week, he felt that things were beginning to click.
"I think it comes down to my performances as well. I think I've not been on top of my game as I wanted to, and we're still adapting to a new system and some new positions," he said.
"But I think I've been growing into it lately and starting to look a bit better. Just happy to get on a score sheet today and I'm sure they will come more now.
"I think we're starting to get a bit more connection between myself and the players, and then starting to understand what my qualities are even more, and playing to them as well. I'm developing and to understand their qualities as well, and that's what the manager wants. He wants us to play to our strengths, and now we're starting to find each other even better."
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One flourishing relationship is with Joshua Zirkzee, who was signed from Bologna in the summer to compete with Hojlund but is now producing some of his best football playing as one of the No. 10s under Amorim.
"We didn't get to play too much together in the beginning of the season, but now he's starting to play in a different sort of role or position and he can still do the other part, but playing together with him is very nice," added Hojlund.
"He's a lovely lad and I think competition is a good thing, but I think we also support each other's qualities very well."