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Manchester United smashed Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on Sunday, pushing the relegation-threatened Foxes deeper down, and it’s beginning to look more certain with each passing week that Ruud van Nistelrooy’s team will join Southampton and Ipswich Town on their way back to the Championship this town. Rasmus Hojlund broke the deadlock after 28 minutes, while Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes set the final score at 0-3.
In normal circumstances, there would be nothing surprising in the fact that the player wearing the No. 9 shirt scored for the winning team, but Rasmus Hojlund did not score a single goal in over three months preceding the match on Sunday. Even Darwin Nunez, Liverpool’s heavily criticized striker, doesn’t go that long without getting on the scoresheet.
So what’s the problem for the former Atalanta man?
Well, unlike Nunez who frequently wastes clear-cut chances and can sometimes be extremely unlucky in his efforts, Hojlund rarely gets the service he needs to score. And even when he does, he often exhibits a lack of confidence by not shooting when he finds himself in a position to pull the trigger.
During Hojlund’s 21-game goal drought, data indicates he was expected to score three goals based on xG.
There were moments when he created scoring opportunities but lacked the necessary service. In the first leg of United’s Europa League last-16 tie against Real Sociedad, he made an unmarked run into the box, only for Diogo Dalot to check back and pass to Garnacho instead. Hojlund expressed frustration, and Dalot later admitted his mistake at halftime. Despite this, Dalot has been one of United’s most consistent performers during their recent resurgence, which has seen them reach the Europa League quarterfinals and climb to 13th in the Premier League.
Hojlund views it as part of the adaptation process under head coach Ruben Amorim.
“We’re still adapting to a new system and some new positions,” Hojlund said. “But I think I’ve been growing into it lately and starting to look a bit better.”
Joshua Zirkzee has recently impressed in one of the two attacking midfield slots behind Hojlund.
“We didn’t get to play too much together in the beginning of the season, but now he’s starting to play in a different sort of role and playing together with him is very nice,” Hojlund noted. “He’s a lovely lad and I think competition is a good thing, but I think we also support each other’s qualities very well.”
Despite progress, Hojlund acknowledges room for improvement. During his goal drought, he attempted only 21 shots, with six on target, at times appearing hesitant to shoot. When presented with a chance from ten yards against Real Sociedad in the second leg, he sent his effort wide despite being under no pressure.
Having netted 16 goals in 43 appearances last season, he currently has eight this campaign in just four fewer games. With the season’s final stretch set to determine United’s Champions League hopes via the Europa League, he remains optimistic.
“I’ve not been on top of my game as much as I wanted to be,” Hojlund said. “But I’m sure more goals will come now.”
Although he created 15 chances for teammates during his drought, Amorim wants him to be a focal point in attack rather than a playmaker.
“He [Amorim] wants me to stretch the pitch, I think that’s quite obvious, and to get into the channels and keep the centre-backs occupied,” he said. “That’s what I’m trying to do. I think I got a good amount of speed and, yeah, that’s what I’m here for.”
Meanwhile, rumours about United being on the lookout for a new striker appear frequently. With the likes of Victor Osimhen and Viktor Gyokeres being mentioned, Hojlund will need to start delivering on a regular basis or find himself under increased scrutiny.
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