Amorim hails struggling Man Utd star's breakout performance in Bilbao | OneFootball

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim didn’t hold back after Thursday night’s commanding Europa League semi-final win over Athletic Club, calling it the best performance he’s seen from young striker Rasmus Højlund.

United return to Old Trafford with a solid 3-0 aggregate lead, thanks to a flurry of first half goals.

While Hojlund didn’t score, he played a pivotal role—winning the penalty that led to Dani Vivian’s dismissal and staying involved in the build-up throughout. Amorim saw the outing as a potential turning point for the 21-year-old, who’s been under heavy scrutiny from critics in recent months.

"It was his best game under me,” Amorim said. "He held the ball up, made smart runs and really supported the team."

The coach compared Højlund’s outing to Harry Maguire’s own journey from being a player many thought had no future at the club to again becoming a key part of his side's defence.

"Like Harry, Rasmus needs to realise how quickly things can change in football," Amorim added. "You can hit what feels like rock bottom and bounce back. It’s about keeping your head down and working through the tough spells.”

"We’ve seen it before: people saying we’re finished and then suddenly it’s ‘best game of the season.’ That’s football."

📸 ANDER GILLENEA - AFP or licensors