Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's first goal against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. AP
Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's first goal against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. AP
Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's first goal against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. AP
Manchester United's Rasmus Hojlund, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's first goal against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. AP

Ruben Amorim delighted for Hojlund and Garnacho as Manchester United clinch important win over Leicester


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Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim was pleased for Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho after the duo ended their goal drought in Sunday's morale-boosting victory at struggling Leicester City.

The Red Devils moved up to 13th with just their 10th Premier League win of a challenging season as they made light work of Ruud van Nistelrooy's seemingly Championship-bound Foxes.

Hojlund fired United into the lead as he ended a 21-game scoreless streak, with Garnacho then ending a 24-match run without a goal before skipper Bruno Fernandes wrapped up a convincing 3-0 win at the King Power Stadium.

"It's really important for him," Amorim said of Hojlund's first goal since December 12.

"He's doing the right things, he's helping the team, he's fighting for every ball and today he scored a very good goal, very important goal, especially at that moment in the game.

"I think he deserved that goal more than anybody."

"He [Garnacho] was really happy but the most important thing is the way he's improving his game. He's playing both sides, not just on the left. He's sprinting back, the small things he's doing quite well."

The visitors started well, with Christian Eriksen rattling the post with a curling effort before Hojlund's opener.

Garnacho had the ball in the net early in the second half but the referee ruled out his well-taken finish for offside.

The 20-year-old did not have to wait long for a first goal in 24 matches in all competitions, however, as he collected Fernandes' pass before drilling home.

Fernandes, who has been in fine scoring form, was not to be upstaged. His goal of the night late on gave United fans one more reason to cheer after scoring a hat-trick in Thursday's 4-1 Europa League win over Real Sociedad.

United came to the King Power Stadium having accumulated the fewest wins and points after 28 games in any of the club's Premier League campaigns. Amorim thus welcomed a rare comfortable win.

"I think the performances are improving and when you have the performance and the result, because the result does not always come with the performance, you feel better," Amorim said.

"I'm starting to see different things in the team, especially today. You can feel a lack of energy in some players but you feel that the team can find the way to win games even when they are a little bit more tired.

"It's a good sign for this team."

Despite the result, Amorim said he is looking forward to a much-deserved break with his United players stretched to "their limit".

The Red Devils are unbeaten in seven games, excluding penalty shoot-outs, and are into the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

United are not in action for another two-and-a-half weeks as an international break is followed by the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Amorim has welcomed that time to rest and recover with an injury-ravaged squad despite fears it could halt his side's momentum.

"It's a shame we stop for the national teams when our confidence is at its biggest," said the Portuguese.

"It was clear today my players are at the limit. We are going to use this window to rest and recover, it will be good.

"The feeling is completely different [after back-to-back wins]. When we return it will be like starting from scratch."

And while United head into the international break with a pep in their step, Leicester limp on knowing it is likely a case of when rather than if they are relegated.

The Foxes sit 19th in the standings and nine points off safety with just nine matches remaining, with boss Van Nistelrooy vowing to keep fighting after overseeing a 13th defeat in 14 Premier League matches.

Asked where it had gone wrong on Sunday, the Leicester boss, who started the season as United assistant and had a spell in interim charge, said: "I think in efficiency, in taking opportunities, the score and defending key moments in the game.

"I think that's where the difference was made today.

"It's about while mathematically there's a possibility [we fight], so as long as that's the case we are professionals, we keep doing our jobs.

"We can't and won't give up until mathematically it's impossible."

ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand

UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206-cylinder%203-litre%2C%20with%20petrol%20and%20diesel%20variants%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20automatic%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20286hp%20(petrol)%2C%20249hp%20(diesel)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E450Nm%20(petrol)%2C%20550Nm%20(diesel)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EStarting%20at%20%2469%2C800%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How the bonus system works

The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.

The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.

There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).

All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.

UAE SQUAD

Khalid Essa, Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Adel Al Hosani, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Mohammad Barghash, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Hassan Al Mahrami, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Yousef Jaber, Majed Sorour, Majed Hassan, Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Abdullah Al Naqbi, Khalil Al Hammadi, Fabio De Lima, Khalfan Mubarak, Tahnoon Al Zaabi, Ali Saleh, Caio Canedo, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri

The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.5-litre%20V12%20and%20three%20electric%20motors%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C015hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E1%2C500Nm%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eight-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Early%202024%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh2%20million%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Stamp duty timeline

December 2014: Former UK finance minister George Osbourne reforms stamp duty, replacing the slab system with a blended rate scheme, with the top rate increasing to 12 per cent from 10 per cent:
Up to £125,000 - 0%; £125,000 to £250,000 – 2%; £250,000 to £925,000 – 5%; £925,000 to £1.5m: 10%; Over £1.5m – 12%

April 2016: New 3% surcharge applied to any buy-to-let properties or additional homes purchased.

July 2020: Rishi Sunak unveils SDLT holiday, with no tax to pay on the first £500,000, with buyers saving up to £15,000.

March 2021: Mr Sunak decides the fate of SDLT holiday at his March 3 budget, with expectations he will extend the perk unti June.

April 2021: 2% SDLT surcharge added to property transactions made by overseas buyers.

Updated: March 17, 2025, 5:43 AM