Ruben Amorim’s arrival cannot come soon enough for one Manchester United player in desperate need for things to change.
That is the impression Paul Scholes came away with after watching a player who was supposed to be enjoying his breakout, conformation year but instead lumbered through another 90 minute cardio session with nothing to show for the calories he burned.
Not for the first time in a Manchester United shirt, Rasmus Hojlund was a striker feeding on scraps.
The Denmark international managed only 16 touches and two shots as Man United needed Amad Diallo to put Greek champions PAOK to bed at Old Trafford.
And while this is not to say Hojlund is completely blameless – he did squander one presentable headed chance and his hold-up play was strangely slack on the night – Scholes is confident that his fortunes will turn once Ruben Amorim gets his claws into an underperforming Red Devils side.
Ruben Amorim backed to set Rasmus Hojlund’s Manchester United career alight
“A little bit disappointed in Hojlund really,” Scholes sighs. “I thought he had a tough night. A difficult night.
“I think he will improve though. He will get better once he’s coached by a coach who I think will believe in him.”
While Amorim alone cannot be credited with the emergence of Viktor Gyokeres – he was a pretty handy centre-forward at Coventry City too – Scholes is intrigued to see if Hojlund can also become one of the most prolific number nines on the planet under the departing Sporting CP chief.
Hojlund does, after all, possess many of the same raw attributes as Gyokeres; his fearsome acceleration, his ball-carrying talents, and his ability to shrug off centre-halves.
And even Gyokeres – 66 goals now in 67 Sporting games – would struggle for regular chances in a Man United team set up in a way in which most of their opportunities fall to the wingers.
“We’ve seen the effect [Amorim] has had on the forward over in Sporting Lisbon,” Scholes adds. “He scores loads of goals. I think Hojlund is capable of that.
“I think that’s key for Rasmus – you need partnerships in the team, you need to get close to him.”
Legendary striker and interim coach Ruud van Nistelrooy believes Hojlund must show more self-belief at Man United if he is to join the ranks of elite Red Devils hitmen.
On what was his third and penultimate game in charge of his beloved Red Devils, Van Nistelrooy felt that Hojlund’s movement was not quite as sharp as it could have been as a number of crosses flashed by the PAOK goal.
“[Hojlund getting into goalscoring areas] didn’t happen enough,” the Dutchman reflects. “Second-half, we were better in positions. But, also, some crosses in the box where he makes runs didn’t come at the time.”
Paul Scholes raves about Amad Diallo after PAOK masterclass
On a night of familiar frustration – this was a display with so many latter-day Erik ten Hag hallmarks – at least a dazzling Amad Diallo display gave Paul Scholes something to smile about.
Making his first start since the 3-3 draw with FC Porto at the start of October, Amad trebled his 2024/25 tally. First, guiding a fine header back across goal and into the far corner following a Bruno Fernandes delivery, and then wrestling a PAOK defender into submission before battering in from the edge of the box.
“He was excellent,” Scholes adds, feeling that Amad has now secured a starting berth against Leicester City on Sunday.
“I think we said at half-time, he definitely looked the sharpest player on the pitch, and he went on to prove that in the second-half.
“He has been a little in and out this season but there is competition for places. Now, he has come in and he’s made a real stake for that position. And he probably deserves to play at the weekend now after that.”
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