Manchester United’s coaching staff are reportedly “losing patience” with Rasmus Hojlund as the Danish striker’s dismal form continued at Goodison Park on Saturday afternoon.
Hojlund, 22, has not scored in sixteen games for the Red Devils, having returned only two goals in the Premier League this season.
United have struggled massively in front of goal, whether it was Ruben Amorim or his predecessor, Erik ten Hag, in the dug out, and there are mitigating factors for the team’s strikers, given the paucity of chances being created.
However, Hojlund’s general performances have been as woeful as his abilities in front of goal in this period.
Striker’s Struggles
The Dane’s link-up play has been abysmal with his second touch often being a tackle after an errant first touch cedes possession.
Similarly, Hojlund continues to engage in pointless physical battles with defenders who are stronger and taller than him, rather than utilise his searing speed to drag them into uncomfortable areas of the pitch.
The 22-year-old striker is a well-built player for his age, but his strength and size are not particularly special within the context of Premier League football. What does set him apart, however, is how fast and mobile he is relative to his frame.
The fact Hojlund does not seek to constantly drop a shoulder on the opposition centre-back, disentangle, and make an incisive run towards either channel when United are in possession beggars belief.
He has the strength to create this slither of space for himself and the speed to really trouble a a defence in behind. Instead, the Dane latches onto centre-backs as balls are lofted towards and gives these defenders their easiest assignment of the season.
Coaches Losing Patience
Samuel Luckhurst (Manchester Evening News) reports the coaching staff at Old Trafford are now beginning to “lose patience” with these ineffective performances by the club’s number nine.
The report reveals one member of Amorim’s group was ” particularly scathing” of Hojlund’s display in the 1-0 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in North London two weekends ago.
And it was a similar story in Merseyside this weekend with the Dane hooked at the 70th minute mark for 17-year-old compatriot Chido Obi with United 2-0 down. To replace your starting striker for a player with less than five minutes of first-team experience is a damning indictment on Amorim’s assessment of Hojlund with the Reds in desperate need of a goal.
Obi’s entry at Goodison Park was loudly cheered by the away end but Luckhurst’s report contends some of this reaction was “in response to Hojlund’s removal as much as Obi’s introduction.”
It will be interesting to see whether Hojlund maintains his starting berth against Ipswich Town on Wednesday night at Old Trafford with the club’s coaches and fans increasingly frustrated with the 22-year-old.
Featured image Lewis Storey via Getty Images
Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social
Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
