Christian Eriksen reveals major change in Rasmus Hojlund following Manchester United exit

Christian Eriksen showered Rasmus Hojlund with praise following Denmark’s 6-0 thrashing of Belarus, saying the striker is ‘happy’ and playing with ‘self-confidence’ again since leaving Manchester United.

Hojlund has hit the ground running on loan at Napoli this season, scoring two goals in his first four league appearances, with the Italian champions sitting pretty at the top of the Serie A table.

It means Hojlund is already halfway towards the overall goalscoring tally (4) he managed with United in the Premier League last term.

The reinvigorated 22-year-old – who joined the Red Devils for a fee of £72million just two years ago – has also netted twice in the Champions League for Napoli, both goals coming in a 2-1 defeat of Sporting.

After his dramatic winner in Napoli’s recent victory over Genoa, Hojlund could be forgiven for feeling a sense of frustration that the international break arrived when it did.

But Hojlund’s red-hot form continued as Denmark hit lowly Belarus for six to tighten their grip on Group C in World Cup qualifying on Thursday evening.

The visitors were in the ascendancy from minute one and a fired-up Hojlund had a brace to his name in the first half following Victor Froholdt’s early opener.

Hojlund could even have completed a hat-trick before the break, but the attacker unselfishly squared to Manchester United full-back Patrick Dorgu, who made no mistake from close range.

Goals from Lucas Hogsberg and Jonas Wind piled yet more misery on Belarus in the second period, with Hojlund taken off in the 77th minute after an excellent night’s work.

‘He is a man with self-confidence, and he stood in the right places, where he was ready to take the easy goals,’ ex-United midfielder Eriksen said of his fellow countryman’s fine display.

‘It was great to see. Not only for him, but also for us, and it is definitely something we can use. I know there is a lot of focus on “Ralle”, so I am happy for him.

‘As a player, you can tell when you’re in a good period. You can see it in him. He looks happy and the ball is falling in the right places.’ 

On Hojlund’s performance, Denmark and Leicester defender Jannik Vestergaard added: ‘It means a lot.

‘He is very involved in the game. He participates in the constructive part, he is a good playmaker.

‘It was a top performance.’

Denmark head coach Brian Riemer was also full of praise for Hojlund, saying: ‘He is full of self-confidence again and that’s the fun thing about football. That’s how much self-confidence means.

‘It’s the same Rasmus Hojlund we’ve had in the other sessions, but now he’s bursting with self-confidence.

‘He rests in himself and then he’s not fun to play against.’

Riemer felt Hojlund’s selfless decision to assist Dorgu – when he was on a hat-trick – demonstrated the the spirit of togetherness within Denmark’s squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

‘That says it all. He’s a team player and that says something about the mission the team is on,’ Riemer added.

‘It’s not about the capabilities of individual players, but about the mission of getting to the World Cup.

‘We do that best if we make each other better.’

Hojlund was glad to be on the scoresheet on a ‘special night’ for the team, who sit above second-placed Scotland on goal difference.

‘I had a long period without scoring for Denmark so it was nice to have some luck in it,’ he told reporters.

‘It was a special night, but we took the task incredibly seriously.

‘Whether we play at the Bernabeu or here is really irrelevant. We had to get the three points and we got them.’

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