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Antonio Conte Blasts Ruben Amorim's 'Arrogant' Treatment of Rasmus Hojlund, Napoli Thriving Under New Manager

Antonio Conte has criticized Ruben Amorim's handling of Rasmus Hojlund as 'arrogant', highlighting the striker's resurgence at Napoli under his management. Hojlund has excelled at the Italian champions after facing struggles at Manchester United under Amorim's regime. While Napoli aim to keep pace with Serie A leaders Inter Milan, Manchester United under caretaker manager Michael Carrick prepare for a crucial derby against Manchester City.

Antonio Conte Blasts Ruben Amorim's 'Arrogant' Treatment of Rasmus Hojlund, Napoli Thriving Under New Manager

Antonio Conte has slammed sacked Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim’s “arrogant” handling of Rasmus Hojlund, accusing the Portuguese of failing to “adapt” his rigid methods to the striker’s qualities. The Denmark international has been in fine form since swapping Old Trafford for Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, scoring nine goals in all competitions for the Serie A side.After struggling to find consistency in front of goal under Amorim’s stewardship, Hojlund was told he was surplus to requirements at United last summer. The 22-year-old - who scored just 10 goals in 52 appearances in 2024-25 - was keen to stay and fight for his place at the Red Devils, only to be pushed closer to the exit door.But after joining Italian champions Napoli on loan with an obligation to buy in September, Hojlund has not looked back after flourishing under Conte’s tutelage.The former Atalanta striker has scored six goals in 16 appearances in the league this season, while he has also netted twice in five Champions League games and once in the Supercoppa Italiana, which the Partenopei won following their 2-0 victory over Bologna in December.While Hojlund has been thriving in Naples, Amorim was dismissed by United at the start of January. The ex-Sporting CP boss was relieved of his duties after a breakdown in relations with the club’s hierarchy, with the 40-year-old’s preferred 3-4-3 system reportedly drawing criticism from the boardroom.United - who have since named former player Michael Carrick as their caretaker manager until the end of the season - said in a statement after Amorim's sacking: “With Manchester United sitting sixth in the Premier League, the club's leadership has reluctantly made the decision that it is the right time to make a change.“This will give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish. The club would like to thank Ruben for his contribution to the club and wishes him well for the future.”And following his departure from United, Amorim’s treatment of Hojlund has been greeted with a scathing attack by Conte.Speaking ahead of Napoli’s home clash against Sassuolo in the league on Saturday, the former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager said: “Some young coaches nowadays are arrogant and don’t want to adapt. They see a young striker struggling, and instead of training him, they blame him.“They always complain and blame everyone but themselves, because everything is handed to them on a silver platter.”Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingWhile Hojlund, Conte and Napoli try to keep pace with Serie A leaders Inter Milan by beating Sassuolo this weekend, United - on the other hand - will look to secure a morale-boosting victory over rivals Manchester City in Saturday’s derby at Old Trafford.Speaking ahead of his first game in charge since replacing Amorim, Carrick - who represented the club as a player between 2006 and 2018 - said: “Listen, I'm here because I enjoy the role and I wanted to do it and I'm hugely privileged to be in this position. So that's kind of where I am. It doesn't change whatever the term, whatever the length, I'm here to do my best. Hopefully, I've got a lot of experience of what it takes and where we need to get to and I'll try and help with that.”Inheriting a United side who are low on confidence following their FA Cup third round loss against Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend, Carrick says his arrival is a “fresh start” for his players, who are currently seventh in the league and just three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool in the race for Champions League qualification.“I've got a lot of belief in that, and as I've just said, confidence and a feeling, and things can go in a different direction very quickly, and I've got a lot of belief in the boys,” former Middlesborough manager Carrick added. “I'm not going to tell you everything about how we're going to do it because I’d be a bit silly to do that, but I think tactically and as a team, what we want to look like and things that we feel can help us and be hugely positive in what we can achieve.”

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Antonio Conte's Critique of Ruben Amorim's Approach

Antonio Conte expressed his displeasure with Ruben Amorim's treatment of Rasmus Hojlund, calling it 'arrogant.' Conte accused Amorim of failing to adapt his coaching methods to support the young striker's development, emphasizing Hojlund's remarkable progress at Napoli after struggling at Manchester United.

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Rasmus Hojlund's Resurgence Under Conte

Rasmus Hojlund has thrived at Napoli, scoring goals consistently under Antonio Conte's tutelage. The Danish striker struggled to find his form at Manchester United but has flourished in Italy, showcasing his talent with impressive performances in both domestic and European competitions.

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Ruben Amorim's Departure from Manchester United

Ruben Amorim was dismissed by Manchester United amidst reported disagreements with the club's hierarchy. His preferred tactics and handling of players, including Hojlund, led to his departure, with the club appointing Michael Carrick as the interim manager to steer the team forward.

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Michael Carrick's Leadership at Manchester United

Michael Carrick steps in as caretaker manager of Manchester United following Amorim's exit. Carrick aims to instill confidence and a fresh start for the team, emphasizing the importance of belief and tactical adjustments to navigate the challenges ahead, including the upcoming derby against Manchester City.

Published on Jan 17, 2026