Wout Weghorst, the ex-Manchester United striker, has revealed the reason behind his goal-scoring struggles under Erik ten Hag’s management.
After Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure, Weghorst joined United on a six-month loan deal in January.
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Despite earning cult-hero status for his hardworking displays at Old Trafford, he primarily stood out for effort rather than prolific goal-scoring.
In 31 appearances, Weghorst managed only two goals, attributing this to a ‘different’ role assigned by Ten Hag impacting his statistics.
“They were super successful months in which we hardly lost,” Weghorst told The Mirror of his time with United. ‘I was also very important for the team, as both a focal point of play and hard-working link between midfield and attack.
‘Only my goals were lagging behind. That gnawed at me and was the reason why I lost my starting place.
‘The Premier League is by far the toughest league in the world, with the best defenders. But we were rarely the dominant side creating chances. And the way we played was also different from what I was used to.
‘In Germany and Turkey, the teams always played for me. I was the end of the line, while at United I mainly had to ensure that others could excel. I think I managed that very well. But whichever way you look at it, I would have liked to score much more often.’
Weghorst isn’t the sole forward grappling with goal-scoring challenges under Ten Hag; Rasmus Hojlund, a summer signing, endured a 14-match Premier League goal drought, extending after a scoreless outing against West Ham yesterday.
‘I think he’s a very strong character and he can deal with the stress,’ said Ten Hag when asked about Hojlund’s goal drought. ‘I took him off.
‘He was ill during the week and so he had a little lack of power. So, yeah, in that sense, I protected him.
‘We have to play two more games this week. But we can’t feel sorry for ourselves. No one. And we have to take the responsibility.
‘If you are playing for Manchester United you have to do it together, but everyone has to be accountable and take responsibility.’
