Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim insisted it was a “very, very good sign” to see Rasmus Hojlund and Amad Diallo visibly arguing after Thursday night’s win over Viktoria Plzen as frustrations between two boiled over in the final stages.
Hojlund scored both of United’s goals from the bench after the home side had taken a surprise lead early in the second half. But with Amorim’s looking for a two-goal cushion in stoppage time, a couple of attacks saw Hojlund and Amad opting not to pass each other.
The Danish striker was clearly upset when he didn’t receive a ball from Amad in one such instance. Less than a minute later, he opted not to pass to the Ivorian in what appeared to be a tie for tat. As the full-time whistle blew, words were exchanged between the two while they were still on the pitch.
When reporters asked Amorim for a response, he claimed it was “healthy” and proof that the players “care” about wanting to win.
“It’s perfect for me,” said the boss.
“At this moment, we have to feel something, if we have to fight with each other it’s like a family, for me it’s a very, very good sign. That’s important. When you don’t care, you don’t do anything. When you care’ t, you fight with your brother, with your father, with your mother.
“It’s a normal thing, it’s a positive thing, a healthy thing. I let the players and the captain calm things down. If I think it’s too much, (I’ll intervene) in the dressing room. But it’s their space, they have to talk, fight and for me it is something very important.
“I’m happy to win the game and still fight with each other. When you win and you fight with your partner because you want to score one more, for me it’s a very good day for us.”
Although It wasn’t a perfect performance after a dismal first half and then concedingthe result ends a recent run of two consecutive defeats and marks a third successive Europa League victory.
