Exclusive: Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag 'convinced' Rasmus Hojlund is a 'very good finisher' amid PL goal drought
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Published 22/12/2023 at 19:22 GMT
Rasmus Hojlund is the joint-top scorer in this season's UEFA Champions League with five goals - but the Manchester United striker has yet to find the net in the Premier League. In an exclusive interview with TNT Sports, Erik ten Hag backed the Denmark international - signed for £72 million from Atalanta in the summer - to start firing in the Premier League, claiming: "It's just a matter of time".
Rasmus Hojlund of Manchester United applauds the fans after the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester United and FC Bayern Munchen at Old Trafford on December 12, 2023 in Manchester, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
In an exclusive interview with TNT Sports, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has backed Rasmus Hojlund to start firing in the Premier League, claiming it is just a “matter of time” before the striker replicates his form in Europe in domestic matches.
The Denmark international - a £72 million summer signing from Atalanta having scored nine Serie A goals last season - has yet to find the net for The Red Devils in the league, despite registering five times in six games in the UEFA Champions League, making him the joint-highest scorer in the competition, which United exited at the group stage.
Without a goal in 13 league appearances for Hojlund, and with Marcus Rashford also failing to reach the heights of last season, United have - at times - lacked a clinical edge in front of goal.
After the club’s exit from Europe was confirmed following the 1-0 defeat to Bayern Munich, former United midfielder and TNT Sports pundit Paul Scholes expressed “big concerns” about the team’s lack of creativity.
But speaking to TNT Sports ahead of the visit to West Ham in Saturday’s early kick-off, Ten Hag tipped Hojlund to find his form.
“If you can score in the Champions League, you can also score in the Premier League," said Ten Hag of the 20-year-old. "It’s just a matter of time.
"I think don't only be focused on Rasmus Hojlund, we have to focus on us as a team to improve our attacking game and improve the group of offensive players so that we can create more.
“We are absolutely convinced that Rasmus is a very good finisher."
Ten Hag, whose side are seventh in the table after seven defeats in 17 games, has been hurt by a series of injuries throughout the season and will be missing defenders Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire, as well as Casemiro and Mason Mount for the trip to London Stadium.
While Lindelof and Maguire are thought to be nearing a return to action, Casemiro and Mount are not expected to be back until the middle of January, while Lisandro Martinez remains on the sidelines having undergone surgery to fix a metatarsal injury.
Despite the significant injury list, Ten Hag remained tight-lipped as to whether the club would make moves in the January transfer window.
“With the current squad, we are good,” he said.
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“We have a list of injured players and we are hoping to get them back. The moment they are back, we will be in a much better place.”
The unexpected return of Jonny Evans on a free transfer has proven to be a masterstroke, with the 35-year-old playing a vital role in filling holes in a constantly changing defence. Indeed, the former Leicester defender was one of the team’s standout performers in the spirited goalless draw against Liverpool at Anfield last weekend.
While Ten Hag did not single anyone out for praise, the Dutchman admitted he is pleased with how his defenders have performed recently.
“I think we have a good group of centre-backs and we are happy with them, and I think there are also good partnerships there,” he said.
"Even when sometimes we have to swap, you will see that they are solid. They are solid as individuals and in a partnership in cooperation with the rest of the team. We have some experienced players there who are communicative. They can really lead the team."
While Evans’ experience was crucial in defence as United held Liverpool to a rare goalless draw at Anfield, they have a number of promising young players emerging from the academy, including Kobbie Mainoo, who at 18 years and 242 days, became the youngest United player to start against The Reds in a Premier League game.
Along with Alejandro Garnacho, it was also just the second time United had started two teenagers in a match against Liverpool in the competition - after Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo in January 2005.
“I think the future for Manchester United looks very good and bright,” said Ten Hag.
“We have to develop the players further, we have push them to higher levels, and I am sure we have some players who can play for Manchester United for the next decade and help us to reach our targets.”
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