It’s a narrative Manchester United supporters are well versed in.
There is no question about the Red Devil’s talent. The challenge is finding a system and a set-up in which the most can be made of his abilities in the final third.
Despite an impressive 16 goals in his debut season at Manchester United, Rasmus Hojlund‘s 2023/24 campaign at club level was stil the source of much frustration.
Frustration that threatened to boil over during the FA Cup victory over Newport County in January, Hojlund turning the Welsh air a shade of deep blue as Alejandro Garnacho went for goal rather than setting him up inside the six-yard box.
This, for the most part, was the story of Hojlund’s campaign. Many of his 16 goals were scored and created by the Denmark international himself, Hojlund turning half-chances into emphatic finishes while spending many a game praying for service that just wouldn’t come.
Promising start at Manchester United for Rasmus Hojlund
Of course, the £64 million signing from Atalanta must take his share of the blame. As United icon Andy Cole argues, Hojlund would be better off spending less time wrestling centre-halves and making more of those darting runs, with the 21-year-old’s movement and anticipation still a work in progress.
With his goal drought at international level now extending to eight months, a similar discussion is emerging back home in Denmark ahead of this summer’s European Championships. Not that Jesper Christiansen has any concerns; feed Hojlund, he says, and the goals will flow.
“I’m not nervous (about Hojlund’s form),” the former Denmark goalkeeper tells Tipsbladet. “He just needs to be serviced.
“He is fearsome in the box, he hurts the defence and it is clear that the opposition have an extra eye on him.
“They know what he can do. He might give more freedom to (Jonas) Wind and (Christian) Eriksen, but he has to be serviced.”
Denmark drought ongoing
Christiansen feels that Kasper Hjulmand’s side should utilise a wing-back system at the Euros, flying widemen Alexander Bah, Joekim Maehle and Viktor Kristensen capable of bursting down the flank and pullling incisive crosses into Hojlund’s path.
“I would like us to play with wing backs who have him serviced in the box,” Christiansen adds. “If you lie with Hojlund and Wind in there, you can hurt (the opposition).”
Let go by Copenhagen and snapped up by Sturm Graz, then from Atalanta to Manchester United in the space of just 12 months, the rapid nature of Hojlund’s rise has delighted the one-time Rangers goalkeeper.
Hojlund, despite some concerns over his recent form on the international stage, only made his Denmark debut in 2022 but heads into the Euros with a goal-every-other game average under Hjulmand.
“I get goosebumps. It’s such a cool story with him,” Christiansen beams, Hojlund exploding onto the scene with hat-trick against rivals Finland just over a year ago.
“To come to such a big club (Man United) and already put his name in the way he has over there, despite the adversity he had, that’s cool from such a young kid.
“It is awesome.”