Rasmus Hojlund’s first season as a Manchester United player was filled with intense highs and extreme lows.
The highs? His remarkable run of goalscoring form. Two strikes against Luton Town meant that he became youngest player ever to score in six consecutive Premier League games. Record-breaking form.
But then his lows are quite the opposite. After returning from injuries, he severely struggled to find the net, which led to uncertainty in his abilities from pundits.
Hojlund has now spoken out on this when in reality, he really shouldn’t have had to.
Rasmus Hojlund on his goalscoring form
Speaking to journalist Thymote Pinon, Hojlund spoke about the newfound critiques he’s been receiving since moving to England’s top flight.
He begins: “Manchester United is so big, the Premier League is so huge… people are obviously more focused on you than before. It was hard at the beginning. Now, I am much calmer, I no longer worry too much about what is said”
The Danish international then went on to back up his own abilities: “I know that I am a good player and that if I get chances, I will score a lot of goals.”
It’s good to hear him speak like this. A lot of young players would let the criticism swamp them, it appears in Hojlund’s case it just persuades him to do better. A great mentality. However, despite his maturity shining through, we can’t help but think it shouldn’t have to.
Rasmus Hojlund’s microscopic scrutiny should have never happened this season
Hojlund has 15 goals in his first season as a Manchester United player, with nine of these coming in the league, six in the Champions League and one in the FA Cup.
At just 21 years old, this is not a bad return whatsoever, particularly given his previous goalscoring seasons.
Last season in notoriously easier leagues playing for Atalanta and Sturm Graz, he only bagged one more at 16, which again is still pretty good for a then 20-year-old.
The point we are trying to make is the fact that Hojlund should have never been put in this position in the first place.
In his first campaign in red, he simply should not have been playing this many games. It’s far too much pressure on a youngster to lead the line at Old Trafford week in and week out.
Thanks to Anthony Martial’s prolonged time in the medical room, Erik ten Hag has had no choice but to throw Hojlund in the deep end – which has led to a barrage of attention on his head.
The forward should have been signed alongside a more competent striker, who he could have learned from and nurtured alongside.
It’s such a shame he has to come out and speak about this when the task he’s been given in his inaugural season was an unexpected and difficult one as it is.