When Rasmus Højlund arrived at Manchester United in the summertime of 2023, he was heralded as the reply to the membership’s long-standing striker woes. Signed from Atalanta for a charge within the area of £64 million, the younger Dane was tasked with main the road for one of many world’s most storied golf equipment. Quick ahead to 2025, and Højlund’s time at Previous Trafford has been something however easy. With simply seven objectives in 31 appearances this season, the 22-year-old is underneath rising scrutiny, and questions are being requested about his capacity to fulfil the lofty expectations positioned upon him.
A Daunting Process: The Weight of the United Shirt
From the second he stepped onto the pitch at Previous Trafford, Højlund was burdened with the accountability of being United’s major objective risk. In a workforce that has struggled to create probabilities persistently, the strain on the younger striker has been immense. Ruben Amorim, who changed Erik ten Hag in November 2024, has been supportive of Højlund, usually declaring that his teammates must do extra to supply him with service.
“It’s not nearly Rasmus,” Amorim has stated. “He wants the workforce to create alternatives for him. We’ve got to do higher as a collective.”
Whereas Amorim’s defence of Højlund is legitimate, the striker’s struggles can’t be fully attributed to a scarcity of service. His motion off the ball, decision-making within the last third, and composure in entrance of objective have all been areas of concern. As former Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby identified, “It’s clear that he’s not scoring sufficient objectives. Nobody doubts that.”
The Numbers Don’t Lie: A Regarding Purpose Drought
Højlund’s statistics this season make for grim studying. In 31 appearances throughout all competitions, he has managed simply seven objectives and one help. Within the Premier League, the numbers are much more alarming: two objectives in 22 video games. For a membership of United’s stature, such a return is solely not adequate.
The Dane’s objective drought stretches again to the flip of the yr, with no objectives in his final 14 matches. As United put together to face Tottenham Hotspur this weekend, Højlund’s incapability to search out the again of the web has turn out to be a significant speaking level.
The Competitors Conundrum: Zirkzee and the Seek for a New Striker
Højlund’s struggles have been compounded by the dearth of competitors within the striker division. Joshua Zirkzee, signed from Bologna in January 2024, has failed to supply a constant problem for the beginning spot, leaving Højlund because the de facto first-choice striker regardless of his poor type.
Nevertheless, United’s reported curiosity in Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyökeres means that the membership is actively in search of to strengthen their attacking choices. Gyökeres, who has scored 34 objectives in 35 appearances this season, would symbolize a major improve and will push Højlund additional down the pecking order.
Molby has warned that Højlund’s place within the workforce is way from safe. “They don’t have the cash to exit and purchase a prime striker but, however they’ve a whole lot of thrilling younger gamers, and Højlund is considered one of them,” the previous Liverpool midfielder instructed Tipsbladet. “Will probably be thrilling, however I’ve little doubt that Højlund will keep at Manchester United after the summer season. In fact, he additionally has to ship.”
A Lack of Mentorship: The Van Nistelrooy Issue
One issue that has usually been ignored is the dearth of skilled strikers at United to information Højlund. Throughout his temporary stint as caretaker supervisor, Ruud van Nistelrooy was unable to unlock the Dane’s potential, and the membership’s failure to supply a seasoned mentor has left Højlund to navigate the pressures of main the road on his personal.
Amorim’s arrival introduced hope of a contemporary begin, however the Portuguese coach has but to discover a solution to get the most effective out of his younger striker. With United’s attacking play usually disjointed and predictable, Højlund has been left remoted and annoyed.
The Highway Forward: Time to Step Up
At simply 22, Højlund nonetheless has time to grow to be the participant United hoped he would turn out to be. His bodily attributes, work fee, and potential are plain, however he wants to begin translating these qualities into constant performances.
Amorim’s problem is to create a system that maximises Højlund’s strengths whereas addressing the workforce’s broader points. Whether or not that entails signing a brand new striker, tweaking the techniques, or just instilling extra confidence within the Dane, the clock is ticking.
Conclusion: A Defining Interval for Højlund
Rasmus Højlund’s struggles at Manchester United are a microcosm of the membership’s wider points. A younger participant thrust into the highlight, burdened with unrealistic expectations, and missing the help system to thrive, Højlund’s journey has been removed from straightforward.
Nevertheless, soccer is a recreation of resilience, and Højlund has the expertise to show his fortunes round. Whether or not he can achieve this at Previous Trafford stays to be seen, however one factor is for certain: the following few months can be essential in figuring out his future on the membership.
For United, the problem is to supply him with the instruments to succeed—or threat seeing one other promising expertise fall by the wayside.
Quotes sourced from Jan Molby’s interview with Tipsbladet and Ruben Amorim’s press conferences. Statistics by way of Opta.
