A forward receiving advice by one of the finest strikers in Manchester United and Premier League history must almost feel like a budding young actor being given a masterclass in line delivery by Leonardo di Caprio.
When Andy Cole talks, you listen.
The Red Devils icon still ranks fourth on the Premier League’s all-time scoring charts after all – and he didn’t take penalties either, by the way – so who better to talk an up-and-coming talent through the next stage in his development?
Cole watched Rasmus Hojlund toil during Manchester United‘s 1-0 defeat at home to title-chasing Arsenal on Sunday. And while Hojlund’s debut season at Old Trafford certainly errs on the side of success – 14 goals for a struggling side is a more than respectable tally for one so inexperienced – the treble-winner feels that there a few obvious creases for the Denmark international to iron out.
Manchester United legend advises Rasmus Hojlund
“The game’s changed so much,” Cole tells his former Man United team-mates Roy Keane and Gary Neville on The Overlap’s latest edition of their Stick to Footballpodcast.
“He has an obsession to want to fight the centre-half. (You) don’t need to. Not in a modern-day game.”
Hojlund barely got even a penny’s worth of change out of the division’s most-watertight backline, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes adding another clean sheet to their collection.
For Cole, Man United’s £64 million signing would benefit from focusing less on the opposition and more on his own game, while leaving the wrestling to Rey Mysterio.
“You know, back in the days when you’ve got Sparky (Mark Hughes), yeah, that’s totally different,” adds Cole, who netted 187 top-flight goals for United, Newcastle, Blackburn, Man City, Fulham, Sunderland and Portsmouth.
“(Hojlund) has this big obsession; ‘I’ve got to fight him, I’ve got to know where he is, I’ve got to have a little tussle with him’. He’s fighting and tussling so much he doesn’t get hold of the ball!
“You know, just play freely. Get hold of the ball.”
Promising but work still to be done for Old Trafford newbie
‘Getting hold of the ball’ has, in itself, been a bit of a problem for Hojlund during a mixed first season in English football.
The former Atalanta speedster can boast the second-best conversation rate in the division – only bettered by, guess who, Erling Haaland – and one can only imagine the numbers he’d have put up with more reliable service.
Then again, perhaps Hojlund must take his share of the blame for the lack of regular chances coming his way. Less scrapping with centre-halves, more runs and a better appreciation of space, Cole feels, is the way forward.
“He’s got to get on the shoulder,” former Man United youngster Danny Webber, a striker in his own playing days, tells MUTV. “You’ve got to not make it such a fight, and not be seen by the centre-halves.
“It is difficult. I’ve played as a ‘one’ up top, but you’ve got to then be smart with the runs that you make, running in behind, so that everything isn’t just a wrestle with the centre-halves. It takes your energy away.
“Hojlund worked hard, that can’t be disputed, but sometimes more subtlety is required.”
With eight to his name, Hojlund has two games remaining to break into double figures in his first Premier League season, beginning with Newcastle at Old Trafford tonight.