Bruno Fernandes backs Rasmus Hojlund to find scoring touch as drought continues - 'Goals will come'
Updated 14/03/2025 at 13:05 GMT
Manchester United stormed into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League with a 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad. Bruno Fernandes grabbed a hat-trick and Diogo Dalot scored after Mikel Oyarzabal had given the visitors an early lead. Rasmus Hojlund may not have scored, but Fernandes and Red Devils manager Ruben Amorim praised his contribution after an impressive performance.
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Bruno Fernandes believes that people outside of Manchester United fail to recognise Rasmus Hojlund's contribution to the team after he played a role in two goals during the 4-1 win over Real Sociedad.
A Fernandes hat-trick and Diogo Dalot's finish ensured Ruben Amorim's side progressed to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League despite an early penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal.
Hojlund has not found the back of the net since scoring twice in Manchester United's 2-1 win over Viktoria Plzen on December 12, 2024.
However, the striker won the penalty that got United back in the game before setting up Dalot to wrap up the tie.
Fernandes believes that Hojlund's team-mates recognise his contribution to the side after he helped them to a 5-2 aggregate victory in the tie.
"Rasmus Hojlund is a striker, strikers are all about goals," said Fernandes.
"You are going to be criticised by the outside world for not scoring.
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"For us, in the dressing room, we want him to score as many as he can.
"We need to understand every movement he does, he got the penalty for the first goal, he did a lot of movements to attract people for my last goal, so there are a lot of things that he does that in the outside world they don't see it, but we see it.
"We see how much he wants to work, and we see how much he wants to score, so I am sure the goals will come and as soon as the first one comes I am sure he will score more and more."
United will face French side Lyon in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League, with the first leg set to be played on April 10 - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Fernandes insists that United are starting to grow in confidence.
"With the results and with the performances, then you start getting a bit more confident," he said.
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"Confidence is a big thing in football and at this club even more because you know that everyone has their eyes on you so you need to perform always at the highest level to have your confidence.
"The main thing is that we have to back ourselves on the training ground and in the dressing room.
"Everyone has to understand that we are here for each other.
"As I said, the progress will be seen if we get results.
"At this club, it is all about results. We want to perform better and play better, the manager wants us to improve the way we play, but at the same time we want to win games."
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Hojlund's manager Amorim echoed Fernandes' sentiments but revealed that the forward needs to score to relieve his anxiety on the pitch.
"We play with two tens," he added. "We need one player to push the team and make the runs.
"He is helping a lot. Today, he did three or four connections that can allow us to change the game.
"He just needs to score a goal, he is so anxious."
Fernandes defends team-mates over Ratcliffe 'overpaid' comments
Earlier this week, Sir Jim Ratcliffe claimed that some Man United players were "overpaid".
Despite the United minority shareholder describing Fernandes as "a fabulous footballer", the Portugal international said that the comments were "not nice to hear".
"I don't think that any player likes to hear criticism or things that are talked about to you, that you're not good enough or you're overpaid or whatever," he said.
"Everyone has their own contract. The club agrees to do the contracts at the time you come here or at the time you do a new contract or whatever, and it's about yourself proving that you can be important for the club."
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