Rasmus Hojlundâs woeful form for Manchester United is ânot a worryâ for Denmark boss Brian Riemer but one of his teammates has been dropped and given a dressing down.
Hojlund has now failed to score in 20 consecutive games for United and was name-checked by Sir Jim Ratcliffe ahead of the co-owner pointing out that several Red Devils stars are âoverpaid or not good enoughâ.
Heâs been heavily linked with the exit this summer as a result as Amorim seeks added firepower in attack, but has still been called up for this monthâs Nations League quarter-final with Portugal.
Riemer insists Hojlund is a âstrong characterâ but admits his selection is something of a âcompromiseâ.
He said: âRasmus Hojlundâs form speaks for itself. I canât say anything else, because you know the numbers. I would prefer to select a team where the players are bursting with self-confidence and in top form.
âBut sometimes you also have to compromise. My job is to find the balance of how many of those who are not in top form I can select. I think Rasmus Hojlund really benefits from coming here and getting some national love.â
Riemer revealed that heâs been in âclose contactâ with Hojlund through a dry spell that he fully expects the striker to come out the other side of at Old Trafford.
He added: âIâm not worried at all. Rasmus is a strong character. Iâve been in close contact with him. Iâve been in this game for many years. Thatâs football. It goes up and down. I donât know any striker who hasnât been in scoring crises. When he scored seven goals in six games in a row [last season for Manchester United], we were all ready with a 100-year contract.
âThatâs football. Suddenly the boil pops up again, and then weâve forgotten what happened. Rasmus is an important part of our team. With the qualities he possesses in terms of scoring goals and participating in our pressing game, we are happy to have him with us for the two upcoming international matches.â
MORE MAN UTD COVERAGE ON F365âŠ
đ Man Utd shamed five ranked on Sir Jim Ratcliffeâs chances of âmovingâ them on this summerâŠ
đ Man Utd learn Marcus Rashford âpay-offâ issue with Aston Villa star âset for cut-priceâ summer transfer
đ âShockedâ Man Utd star âtakes offenceâ at Ratcliffe interview as club chiefs ârealise onlyâ transfer option
That vote of confidence given to Hojlund is at odds with with Ronald Koemanâs explanation for Joshua Zirkzee being dropped for the Netherlandsâ quarter-final against Spain.
âHe wasnât in the preliminary selection because I donât think heâs good enough at the moment,â Koeman told Studio Voetbal. âEspecially scanning when turning or passing often goes wrong.
âYes, in principle form and fitness are always leading, but that is not always possible. We have a lot of central defenders and midfielders, but we are somewhat limited up front.
âBut even then, I still think that you have to earn your selection, and I think he doesnât deserve that now, but that could be the case again in another period.â
