By
SABC Sport
17th March 2025
Hojlund snapped a 21-game goal drought with a clinical first-half strike, while Garnacho ended his own 24-match barren run before captain Bruno Fernandes sealed a dominant display for the Red Devils.
The result handed United their 10th league win of a rollercoaster season, lifting them to 13th in the table. For Leicester, the defeat marked a 13th loss in 14 top-flight outings, leaving the Foxes languishing in 19th, nine points adrift of safety with just nine games left.
Relegation now looms large for Ruud van Nistelrooy's beleaguered side.
Head coach Ruben Amorim couldn't hide his delight for Hojlund, who hadn't scored since December 12. "It's really important for him," Amorim said. "He's been battling for every ball, doing all the right things to help the team, and today he got his reward with a brilliant goal at a key moment. He deserved it more than anyone."
Garnacho, too, earned praise from the United boss. "He was buzzing to score," Amorim said, "but what's impressed me more is how he's growing. He's tracking back, playing both flanks, and nailing the little details. When you get those right, the goals follow, and he deserved his today."
United's performance showcased a team on the up, a sentiment Amorim echoed post-match. "The performances are improving," he said, buoyed by the Leicester win and a midweek 4-1 Europa League triumph over Real Sociedad that secured their spot in the quarter-finals.
The Red Devils now head into a two-and-a-half-week break with momentum firmly on their side.
The match wasn't without its setbacks, though. Youngster Ayden Heaven, fresh off a promising full Premier League debut, suffered a worrying injury early in the second half. The 18-year-old, who had started in the Europa League tie against Sociedad, was stretchered off after a clash with Leicester's Patson Daka.
Spotted leaving the stadium in a protective boot, Heaven's condition remains unclear. "We'll know more next week," Amorim said. "He's so young, he couldn't even explain what he felt, it's tough to judge right now."
For Leicester, the outlook grows bleaker by the week. Van Nistelrooy, who briefly led United as interim boss earlier this season, pinpointed his team's lack of ruthlessness as the difference. "It came down to efficiency, taking chances and defending key moments," he said.
Despite the grim numbers, the Dutchman refused to throw in the towel. "As long as it's mathematically possible, we keep fighting. We're professionals, we won't give up until it's over."
Recent X updates from Manchester United underscored the positivity around the camp, with the club posting: "Three goals, three points, and a clean sheet, onto the break with a big win!"
Meanwhile, Fernandes hailed his teammates, writing: "Team effort today, Hojlund and Garnacho stepping up, love to see it!"
For Leicester, the silence on X spoke volumes, with fans venting frustration as their season unravels.