After ending Man. United goal drought, Hojlund admits struggles

Rasmus Hojlund admitted he has not been at the top of his game after ending his three-month goal drought in Manchester United’s 3-0 win at Leicester.

The 22-year-old has been through some frustrating fallow periods since arriving at Old Trafford from Atalanta in August 2023, with many questioning the £72-million ($93-million) deal.

The Denmark international ended his 21-match goal drought by setting Ruben Amorim’s side on their way to a 3-0 win at the King Power Stadium on Sunday.

Hojlund scored in the 28th minute, drilling a right-footed finish across Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen following a pass from Bruno Fernandes.

Alejandro Garnacho ended his own lean spell in front of goal and Fernandes added a third as United extended their unbeaten Premier League run to four matches.

Hojlund said he was relieved to be back on the scoresheet for the first time since mid-December but that his issues were not just related to a lack of goals.

“I’m obviously very happy to get my goal and it gives me a lot of confidence,” he said.

“I think it comes down to my performances as well. I think obviously 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.

“But I think I’ve been growing into it lately and starting to look a bit better.”

Hojlund feels a growing connection with his teammates as Amorim, who succeeded Erik ten Hag as manager in November, seeks to make his mark.

“(Amorim) wants me to stretch the pitch, I think that’s quite obvious and get me into the channels and keep keeping the centre-backs occupied,” he said. 

“That’s what I’m trying to do. I think I’ve got a good amount of speed and that’s what I’m here for.”

Victory at relegation-threatened Leicester changed little in United’s poor Premier League season, lifting them from 15th to 13th in the table.

But it continues their unbeaten run in the league and maintains their momentum after Thursday’s 4-1 win against Real Sociedad, which took them into the Europa League quarter-finals.