Rasmus Hojlund: San Marino players tried to 'destroy' my career

Hojlund opened the scoring for the visitors just before half-time at San Marino Stadium on Tuesday, and the home team were not pleased with his celebrations, because afterwards they appeared to target him with dangerous tackles.

The worst of the tackles was committed by Roberto Di Maio in the 88th minute, when he kneed the 20-year-old in the back without any apparent attempt to win the ball.

"The last duel had nothing to do with football," Hojlund told TV2 after the match.

"It ended up being laughable in the end. Such a duel must not just turn into a yellow card. It's a knee in the back - straight red card if you ask me."

"I can't say much other than that I think they are the ones who started, and then the game just went on. 

"They took it to the next level because they have nothing to lose. They thought: 'Well, fine enough, we might as well try to destroy the career.'"

Denmark captain Simon Kjaer backed up Hojlund's claims, revealing that he overheard the San Marino players conspiring to injure the young forward.

"It's dangerous, and they are right next to it. After all, I told him [the referee] right on the pitch that now they are going after his knees after the situation down there," said Kjaer. 

"I also said to the referee 'do you want me to translate now?' We also have VAR. You can see all the way down from behind that he is doing it 100 percent deliberately."

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