Manchester United are a shambles, so it’s fitting that Rasmus Hojlund has five goals in the Champions League but has only scored once in the Premier League.
It’s also worth noting that Hojlund scored twice against Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen, both times losing, which must have left him wondering what else he might have done to help.
Hojlund should be proud of his Champions League group stage goal scoring record, but the pieces haven’t come into place when he’s played domestically, and it’s almost Christmas.
“I know when I get the chances in the league, they’re going to be hopefully in the back of the net,” Hojlund stated just a few weeks ago. “I still feel cheated about my goal against Brighton because I saw the Newcastle game and it was almost identical.”
“Hopefully it’ll be nice, and I know it’ll come, so I’m waiting.” I’m not feeling any pressure, and I’m just trying to concentrate on my game. I haven’t had the same opportunities in the Premier League as I had in the Champions League.”
That sounded fair, but Hojlund squandered two huge chances against Luton Town shortly after that interview aired, and it began to feel like a league goal would never come.
Hojlund has not scored in United’s four games since overcoming Luton, however he was absent in the win against Everton and selected on the bench in the loss against Newcastle.
Hojlund returned to the starting lineup against Chelsea, and it was difficult not to sympathize with him as Alejandro Garnacho and Antony’s crosses were either overhit, underhit, or errant.
If it wasn’t enough for the striker, Garnacho’s brilliantly placed cross into the back post was met by Scott McTominay, who had made the same run but a fraction earlier.
Hojlund is a fantastic long-term possibility. (Image: 2023 (Fantasista/Chris Brunskill)
It’s no secret that Manchester United haven’t been at their free-flowing, offensive best this season, and Hojlund has been forced to feed from scraps around the opposition’s box when playing in the Premier League.
Despite his claim of not feeling the pressure, Hojlund should have a few goals to his credit based on the expected goals (xG) he’s accumulated in the league, and he’ll be frustrated he hasn’t scored yet.
The longer his wait for his first league goal goes on, the greater the tale becomes, and supporters have wished for the 20-year-old to score more than any other player in the squad.
The elephant in the room is that Hojlund will just be 21 in February, he’s a young striker who was signed for his potential, which means he’ll always be given time to adapt.
United paid £72 million for Hojlund, who scored just nine league goals for Atalanta last season, but the club backed Ten Hag to help him become one of Europe’s best forwards.
Hojlund has all the traits to succeed in the Premier League, with pace, physicality, and intelligent movement, and when it clicks, which it will, United will have a striker that most clubs would envy.
Hopefully, this will happen sooner rather than later, but everyone who is worried about Hojlund is missing the point.