Antonio Conte Labels Ruben Amorim ‘Arrogant’ Over Handling of Rasmus Hojlund

Napoli Boss Takes Obvious Swipe at Axed Man Utd Head Coach as Hojlund Thrives in Italy

Antonio Conte has never been a man to hide his opinions, and this week the Napoli head coach delivered one of his most pointed critiques yet. Without naming names directly at first, Conte made it abundantly clear who his target was, before later confirming it: sacked Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim, whose handling of Rasmus Hojlund he described as “arrogant”.

For Conte, the story of Hojlund is not just about a striker rediscovering his confidence in Serie A. It is about a wider problem in modern coaching, where rigid systems and ego, in his view, sometimes take priority over player development. And coming from a manager with league titles in Italy, England and a reputation for demanding excellence, his words carried weight.

Rasmus Hojlund Loving Life in Napoli After Leaving Manchester United

Few moves last summer raised eyebrows quite like Rasmus Hojlund’s departure from Old Trafford. The Danish striker had arrived at Manchester United with a hefty price tag and huge expectations, but his time under Ruben Amorim never truly caught fire.

During the 2024-25 season, Hojlund managed 10 goals in 52 appearances, numbers that only told part of the story. Confidence was fragile, service was inconsistent, and Amorim’s preferred tactical setup often left the young forward isolated. Despite that, those close to the player insist Hojlund was determined to stay and prove himself.

Instead, he was informed that he was surplus to requirements.

Napoli moved quickly. The Italian champions secured Hojlund on a loan deal with an obligation to buy in September, and from the moment he arrived in Naples, the change was obvious. Playing under Conte, Hojlund has looked sharper, stronger and far more assured in front of goal.

So far this season, he has scored nine goals in all competitions:

• Six in 16 Serie A appearances

• Two in five Champions League matches

• One in the Supercoppa Italiana, a competition Napoli went on to win with a 2-0 victory over Bologna in December

For Napoli fans, Hojlund already looks like a forward built for Italian football. For Conte, he represents something more personal: a player who needed guidance, not criticism.

Conte Heavily Critical of Amorim’s Handling of Hojlund

Amorim sends clear message to Man Utd players after suffering another Premier League defeat

Speaking ahead of Napoli’s league clash with Sassuolo, Conte was asked about Hojlund’s resurgence. What followed was a blistering assessment of how young strikers should – and should not – be managed.

“Some young coaches nowadays are arrogant and don’t want to adapt,” Conte said. “They see a young striker struggling, and instead of training him, they blame him.”

The words landed with force, and the implication was unmistakable. Conte went further, suggesting that certain managers hide behind excuses rather than looking inward.

“They always complain and blame everyone but themselves,” he added, “because everything is handed to them on a silver platter.”

For Conte, the role of a coach is not to impose a system at all costs, but to shape that system around the players available. In Hojlund, he saw raw materials: pace, physicality, and an instinct for goal. What he did not see was a striker incapable of learning.

Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United Exit

SSC Napoli v Genoa CFC – Serie A

While Hojlund has been flourishing in Naples, events at Manchester United have moved in the opposite direction. Ruben Amorim was dismissed in early January after a turbulent spell that never quite found its rhythm.

Officially, the club cited league position and the need to “give the team the best opportunity of the highest possible Premier League finish.” At the time of his sacking, United were sitting sixth, a position deemed unacceptable given the investment made.

Behind the scenes, however, reports suggested deeper issues. Amorim’s insistence on his 3-4-3 system reportedly frustrated the board, particularly as performances remained inconsistent and several players appeared ill-suited to the approach.

In their statement, United said:
“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. The club would like to thank Ruben for his contribution and wishes him well for the future.”

It was a polite ending to a tenure that never truly convinced.

Conte vs Amorim: A Clash of Coaching Philosophies

The criticism from Conte goes beyond personal rivalry. It highlights a clear philosophical divide.

Conte is a coach shaped by experience, adversity and dressing rooms full of strong personalities. His belief is simple: if a player struggles, the coach must adapt, teach and demand improvement. Failure, in his eyes, is shared.

Amorim, by contrast, built his reputation on structure and system. At Sporting CP, that approach brought success. At Manchester United, it proved far more difficult to implement, particularly with young players like Hojlund still learning their trade.

Conte’s remarks about arrogance were telling. They were less about tactics and more about mindset – a warning that inflexibility can derail even the most promising managerial careers.

FC Internazionale v SSC Napoli – Serie A

Napoli’s Title Push and Conte’s Influence

While the noise swirls around Manchester United, Conte remains focused on Napoli’s objectives. The Partenopei are chasing Inter Milan at the top of Serie A, and every point matters.

Hojlund has become an important part of that push, not just for his goals but for his movement and willingness to work for the team. Conte has spoken privately about how receptive the Dane has been on the training ground, soaking up instruction and embracing the demands placed on him.

For Napoli supporters, there is a growing sense that this loan deal could turn into a long-term success story. For Hojlund himself, it feels like a reset – proof that the right environment can change a career’s trajectory.

Michael Carrick Looks to Lift the Mood at United

Back in Manchester, the focus has shifted to Michael Carrick, appointed caretaker manager until the end of the season. A former United midfielder with deep ties to the club, Carrick inherits a squad low on confidence but still within touching distance of the Champions League places.

Speaking ahead of his first match in charge, Carrick struck a calm, measured tone.

“I’m here because I enjoy the role and I wanted to do it,” he said. “I’m hugely privileged to be in this position. It doesn’t matter about the length of time – I’m here to do my best.”

Carrick described his appointment as a “fresh start” for the players, who sit seventh in the table, just three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool. With a derby against Manchester City looming, he knows results will quickly define his short spell.

“I’ve got a lot of belief in the boys,” Carrick added. “Things can go in a different direction very quickly.”

What the Hojlund Story Says About Modern Football

At its heart, this saga is not just about Conte calling Amorim arrogant. It is about how football treats young players under pressure.

Hojlund’s journey from struggling at Old Trafford to thriving at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona is a reminder that talent rarely disappears overnight. Sometimes it just needs the right hands guiding it.

Conte believes he provided that. Amorim, fairly or not, has become the cautionary tale.

As Napoli push forward in Serie A and Manchester United attempt to steady themselves under Carrick, the contrast could not be clearer. One striker is smiling again, one coach is defending his reputation, and one outspoken Italian manager has ensured the debate around arrogance, adaptation and player development is far from over.

Whether Ruben Amorim takes Conte’s criticism on board remains to be seen. But for Rasmus Hojlund, the message is already clear: sometimes leaving is the making of you.