Ruben Amorim warns Rasmus Hojlund & Diogo Dalot over on-pitch 'fight'
- Hojlund fumed at Dalot during Man Utd's 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad
- Striker's barren run in front of goal stretches to 19 games
- Amorim sends stern message to players
By Tom Gott
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has warned his players against "fighting" on the pitch after Rasmus Hojlund lost his temper with Diogo Dalot during the 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad.
During the first half of the contest, Hojlund was left apoplectic with rage as Dalot failed to make what appeared to be an obvious square pass that would have allowed the Dane to end his goalless streak, which now extends to 19 games across all competitions.
Instead of passing, Dalot cut inside and the chance was lost, and Hojlund made sure to make his feelings known by screaming at his teammate's poor decision-making.
While Amorim understood Hojlund's disappointment, he warned his players that they cannot react in such a way during a match.
"I think it's hard to say, but I just imagine that Diogo doesn't know for sure that Rasmus has the advantage," Amorim reflected. "One thing that I'm sure, they are really anxious to score goals and to win games, so they are all doing their best. Sometimes they want to do the best, but they are not deciding the best way in that position.
"It was a clear situation. Rasmus did really well, Dalot did really well, the decision was not the best. The important thing is to move on and not stay like them, fighting, and let's move on to the next opportunity."
Not only did Hojlund fail to end his dry streak, but the United striker did not even manage a single shot during the game. But Amorim once again moved to defend Hojlund's performance after the final whistle.
"He's trying really hard," Amorim said. "He gave everything, he made the runs.
"We know that Real Sociedad has a high line and he uses his pace to win, to fight. The other thing is he's going to appear in the right moment, he has to continue to play, not be anxious.
"In that position with Diogo he did a great run, in the position, sometimes the ball comes, sometimes it doesn't. He needs to think in the next way, in this case, in the next game."
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