Manchester United star Rasmus Hojlund slammed amidst poor run of form
Manchester United crashed again in the Premier League, and again in front of everyone’s eyes, on a stage where they seemed to have more to prove. Ruben Amorim’s team visited Stamford Bridge with the urgency to win, but ended up sinking further after losing 1-0 against a Chelsea team that was not showing much certainty either. This latest defeat added to the tense atmosphere at Old Trafford, where frustration has been building for weeks. Were it not for Tottenham’s defeat by Aston Villa, the Manchester outfit would be 17th in the table; an unbefitting campaign for a club with their history.
Chelsea’s goal was enough to expose United’s structural problems once again: a lack of ideas, few solutions from the bench, and a disconnected striker. Rasmus Højlund, signed as an attacking solution with an investment of close to £72 million, was once again left without impacting the team. His involvement was limited, his influence almost non-existent, and the attack lacked mobility or real presence in the opposition box.
Tim Sherwood slams Rasmus Hojlund; calls him “useless”
The young Dane was out of rhythm, failing to impose himself in duels or position himself where he could do damage. Although the playmaking doesn’t help, much more is expected from the man who was presented as the ‘9’ of the future. As per TBR Football, Tim Sherwood criticised Hojlund for his displays for United. With no real impact in the last few games, the question is beginning to be asked more and more: Does he have the level the club demands? The lack of goals is just a symptom.
The feeling is that he doesn’t add up. Everything flows better when he is not there. It’s a harsh judgment, but one that gains strength week by week, as the games go by and the hope that his performance will change begins to fade.
Manchester United star Rasmus Hojlund slammed amidst poor run of form.
Tim Sherwood delivers a harsh assessment of Rasmus Hojlund’s performance, calling the Manchester United striker “useless” post-match.
“I think they’re playing without a centre-forward at the moment. I think he needs to find a solution. Hojlund is not the answer. The ball kept breaking down off him, he wasn’t getting in dangerous positions to score goals. Yes, there’s not a lot of service coming into him, but he has to do better. It’s far too easy, so they’re playing with a man down at the moment, so he needs to find a solution to that number nine position.”
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At this stage, continuing to rely blindly on Højlund is a risk the club cannot afford to take. His age is not enough as a shield. The worrying thing is not that he doesn’t score, but that he doesn’t even intimidate. The opposing centre-backs control the young Dane with ease. He neither drags markers nor creates space. For a team that already struggle to build play, having a ‘9’ who does not offer attacking solutions makes everything worse.
Manchester United should seriously think about bringing in another striker in the summer. Not one for the future, but one that will give guarantees from day one; someone who moves intelligently, who has a knack for scoring goals, who makes defenders uncomfortable. Maybe Højlund needs to go out on loan. Another environment, less pressure, minutes without the burden of having to save a sleeping giant. If a clear decision is not made, the club run the risk of continuing to stagnate. The Premier League won’t wait, or should United? It is no longer a time for sentimentality or gambling without real impact; it is time for pragmatism. Because if they continue to play as if they have one less player, they will not escape mediocrity. And that place is not for them.