Ruben Amorim defends Man Utd star despite struggles in historic defeat (2025)

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim called upon his team to provide more goals after failing to trouble the scoresheet in defeat to Wolves at Old Trafford but defended Rasmus Hojlund

Ruben Amorim defended struggling striker Rasmus Hojlund after Manchester United slumped to a record 15th Premier League defeat this season. United were undone by a stunning 77th-minute free-kick from Pablo Sarabia, just three days after their epic extra-time Europa League quarter-final win over Lyon.

Hojlund, who cost United £72million, has scored one goal in his last 28 matches and squandered a number of chances before being subbed with 20 minutes left to play. Despite Hojlund drawing another blank, Amorim leapt to the defence of the 22-year-old and said the responsibility to score must be shared by all of his attackers, not just him.

“Our team should score more goals,” said Amorim. “But it's not just Rasmus missing chances, it's all of the team.

“If you look at the game, we have several players that missed big chances, not just Rasmus. But for Rasmus, the game is to score goals, because he's a striker.

"He needs to score a goal. He needs to score one - maybe that’s all a striker needs.”

“We have an idea of what this team needs, but also we play with three guys up front who can score goals. The midfielders and all of the team needs to score more goals. You have opportunities with the midfielders and strikers, so we need to improve as a team.”

United's 15 defeats this season is the most they have suffered in the Premier League era. Amorim's side are in danger of finishing in 17th place, one spot above the relegation zone.

"We were the better team but, in the end it doesn’t matter if we don’t score goals,” said Amorim. "One set piece from them changed it, so it’s really frustrating to end the game like this.

"We say to the fans the truth - that we lack a lot of things in our team, that we miss chances and we have a lot to focus on improving the team.”

Wolves boss Vitor Pereira, whose side have won five top-flight league games in a row for the first time since 1970, saw his side draw level on points with their opponents. Their three points and Ipswich Town's defeat to Arsenal has seen them secure a spot in next year's Premier League after spending much of the season in a survival battle.

Pereira said: "It was a fantastic goal. I am not looking at the relegation zone, instead I'm looking for the position we can reach."

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