Crisis? Not for us – Erik ten Hag can see Man Utd progress after Chelsea win
Erik ten Hag could revert to a reported pre-season plan this month as Rasmus Hojlund continues to struggle for Premier League goals. Hojlund has shown glimpses of promise since his summer arrival but has contributed to Manchester United’s lack of firepower in the league.
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The 20-year-old arrived at Old Trafford with minimal experience and the expectation that he would require time and patience to score goals at an elite rate.
But Ten Hag made him the most expensive striker in United’s history by pursuing a £72million deal with Atalanta.
And 11 games – or 764 minutes – into his Premier League career, Hojlund has yet to find the net or provide an assist.
It’s been a different story in the Champions League – netting five in as many Group A games – but his frustrations have been clear in domestic competition.
Hojlund was visibly annoyed on different occasions against Chelsea on Wednesday night as Alejandro Garnacho and Antony performed well on the wings but failed to provide any real service.
He made way for Marcus Rashford in the 84th minute, and that’s a substitute we could be seeing in reverse over the coming months.
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Before his maiden season in England, the Manchester Evening News reported that some United figures had described Hojlund as a “rough diamond,” and one used the word “gamble.”
It was claimed that Ten Hag formed a plan that involved Hojlund watching certain games from the bench as Rashford featured as his starting striker.
Anthony Martial, currently Hojlund’s back-up, wasn’t said to be in the conversation amid a willingness to sanction his exit, which never happened before the deadline.
With Alejandro Garnacho enjoying arguably his best run of form since breaking into United’s first team and Rashford struggling on the right, most of the No 10’s minutes could come centrally.
It would allow him to play in a position that helped him notch a career-best 30 goals last season and would help ease the pressure on Hojlund to produce.
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Hojlund dropped to the bench for the trips to Everton and Newcastle United after he returned from a minor injury suffered during the November international break.
But he has been a certain starter when fit this term and would surely benefit from spells out of the spotlight at such an early age.
Ten Hag claimed Rashford’s exclusion against Chelsea was partly due to rotation.
That said, Garnacho must keep his place against AFC Bournemouth on Saturday so the Dutchman may put his plan into action and sacrifice Hojlund.
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