Ruben Amorim saw the positives in Rasmus Hojlund and Amad having a heated discussion at the end of Manchester United’s 2-1 victory over Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League.
Hojlund scored twice as United came from behind to claim all three points and help in their bid to finish the competition’s league phase in the top eight to secure a smooth passage to the last 16.
It had been an uneventful first half but United went behind after a mix-up between goalkeeper Andre Onana and defender Matthijs de Ligt allowed Matej Vydra to score. Hojlund’s goals turned the match around but the striker and Amad appeared to have a disagreement at the Doosan Arena.
But the United head coach saw the incident as a positive. Speaking after the match, Amorim said: “For me, it’s perfect. We need to feel something.
“If we need to fight each other, it’s like a family. For me, it’s a very, very good sign. We need to feel something and that is important.“
When asked if Hojlund and Amad’s disagreement shows that United’s players care, the 39-year-old said: “That is clear. When you don’t care, you don’t do nothing. When you care, you fight with your brother, with your father, with your mother. For me, it’s a very good sign.
“It’s a normal thing, it’s a positive thing, a healthy thing, so I let the players and the captain (Bruno Fernandes) to calm down the things. If I think it’s too much, I will go inside the dressing room but it’s their space. They have to talk, to fight and for me, it’s a very important thing.
“I am happy that we win the game and still fight each other. That is a very good thing. When you win and you fight with your team-mate because you want to score one more, for me it’s a very good day for us.”
The result means Amorim has secured two wins, two draws and two defeats from his first six games in charge of United since replacing Erik ten Hag last month.
In the new 36-team format of the Europa League, the top eight go through to the last-16 phase without the need for a play-off. Teams in ninth to 24th have to play a two-legged tie to join them. The bottom eight go out.
United, who are 13th in the Premier League, are next in action on Sunday as they travel to the Etihad for the Manchester derby against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.
GO DEEPER
The Briefing: Viktoria Plzen 1 Manchester United 2 – Hojlund’s deadly double, Onana’s error and Zirkzee’s woes
(Top photo: MICHAL CIZEK/AFP via Getty Images)
