Rasmus Hojlund insists that he is determined to learn from the hard times at Manchester United and deliver for the club despite reports linking him with a move away from Old Trafford this summer.
The 22-year-old has struggled in the Premier League with just four goals this season but he scored against Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League on Thursday and he now has six goals in the competition this campaign.
‘Obviously there have been hard times,’ said Hojlund. ‘When you go without a goal for a lot of games I wouldn’t say I lost self belief but you’re going to be a bit more down and a bit more frustrated.
‘It is the hard times that make you better and you learn a lot from them. I have always said I know what this football club is all about and it’s a lot of pressure but that is why I’m here. I want to show myself on the biggest stage,’ added the 22-year-old.
And Hojlund believes that Manchester United are improving under Ruben Amorim but admits that regardless of whether or not they win the Europa League, the season ‘hasn’t been good enough.’
‘We’re very happy with being in the final but it can’t take away the focus from the entire season because domestically it hasn’t been good enough. Then again, we play to win trophies and we are in a good position to win a European one,’ said Hojlund.
Rasmus Hojlund has vowed to fight for his Manchester United future
The 22-year-old has been linked with a summer exit amid his struggles at Old Trafford
‘I think we have been improving in the last few weeks, even though the results in the Premier League have not been overly good – just in Europe. But in the Premier League we are gradually getting there although we know we need to get better,’ he added.
United are winless in their last six Premier League games and since Amorim took charge in November, only the now-relegated sides of Ipswich (3), Leicester (3), and Southampton (1) have won fewer games than them (6).
But Hojlund stressed that the mood is changing in the dressing room ahead of the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao.
‘We are focusing on the opportunity we have here,’ he said. ‘There’s maybe a different energy when we play these (European) games because obviously we want to try to win this tournament.
That can give us something from this year to take into the next and winning a trophy is always important for a club of this size.’