An unverified source from within Manchester United has reportedly made statements regarding the performance of forward Rasmus Hojlund, as per recent findings.
In their most recent match, United faced a 1-0 loss to Arsenal, managing only two shots on target throughout the game.
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Erik ten Hag, United’s manager, is grappling with a significant number of injuries, leaving him without his top five central defenders for the match against Arsenal.
Key players Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount, and Marcus Rashford were also missing, resulting in a predominantly youthful bench at Old Trafford.
This situation has led to a dry spell for Hojlund, who has only scored once following a muscle injury in February.
Before his injury, the 21-year-old striker had demonstrated his worth by scoring in seven consecutive Premier League matches, justifying United’s £72 million investment in him from Atalanta the previous summer.
However, due to the team’s injury woes and limited player roster, Hojlund has been compelled to play in every match during this demanding part of the season.
His goal drought has been exacerbated by a concerning statistic revealed after the loss to Arsenal: Hojlund has only had five opportunities created for him by his teammates in the last eight Premier League games, according to Statman Dave.
Manchester United have created Rasmus Hojlund 5 chances in the last EIGHT Premier League games:
0 vs. Arsenal
1 vs. Palace
0 vs. Burnley
3 vs. Sheffield United
0 vs. Bournemouth
0 vs. Liverpool
0 vs. Chelsea
1 vs. BrentfordFor reference, Man City created 6 chances for Haaland… pic.twitter.com/Xpk5GjpIwH
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) May 13, 2024
Notably, three of these chances came in the 4-2 victory over Sheffield United, where Hojlund found the net.
The Manchester Evening News has reported that, based on information from an anonymous team member, there is a desire among some players for different attacking strategies due to the recent lack of goals.
With Anthony Martial, the team’s other main striker, sidelined for all of 2024 due to injury and his contract nearing its end, United is left with limited options upfront.
Last month, Ten Hag acknowledged the need to recruit a new striker to provide competition for Hojlund and alleviate his burden, marking it as one of the club’s top objectives for the upcoming transfer window.
He said: “I think it would help. You need more options. You need double positioning in every position.
“Some positions, we didn’t have the choices this season – the striker position, the left-back position – and that has a negative impact on the results.”
