Ruben Amorim has no issue with the tense exchange that took place between Rasmus Hojlund and Amad Diallo after Manchester United’s Europa League clash against Viktoria Plzen.
Hojlund came off the bench on Thursday night to score a brace as United came from behind to secure a first European away game in 20 months.
It was a superb cameo from the Danish forward, who was praised by Amorim in his post-match interview.
“He is improving,” Amorim said. “He is more near the goal now. He knows better the movement he has to do. He could score more this evening. but he is scoring, working and controlling the ball better.”
As well as his performance, Amorim touched on Hojlund’s heated full-time exchange with Amad Diallo.
The 21-year-old could have grabbed a hat-trick at the Doosan Arena but Diallo failed to cross the ball in the dying embers.
Moments later, referee Marian Barbu blew for full-time but clearly still angry at the incident, Hojlund could be seen expressing his frustration on the pitch.
Amorim was later asked about the spat in his post-match press conference – and it’s safe to say he enjoyed the tense exchange.
“Yes, and for me it’s perfect, we need to feel something,” he said.
“In this moment, 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.
“That is clear (that they care). When you don’t care, you don’t do nothing. When you care, you fight with your brother, with your father, with your mother.”
Image credit: TNT Sports
Amorim added: “It’s a normal thing, it’s a positive thing, a healthy thing. So I let the players and the captain 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 teammate because you want to score one more, for me it’s a very good day for us.”
Speaking about United’s performance against Plzen, the Portuguese coach said: “We are improving in some details. We controlled the transitions very well. We were aggressive when we lost the ball. We need to spend more time near the opposition goal.”