Manchester United signed Rasmus Hojlund for £72million in the summer, but the young striker has struggled in his debut season with the club. Despite showing glimpses of quality, injuries have limited his game time and he has only managed to score 14 goals from 39 appearances. Former United striker Andy Cole believes that Hojlund has been unfairly burdened with leading the team’s attack at such a young age and without experienced mentors to guide him.
Manager Erik ten Hag had initially targeted Harry Kane for United, but the club was unable to meet the £100million price tag and the English captain ended up joining Bayern Munich. As a result, United decided to sign the relatively unknown Hojlund from Atalanta. The 21-year-old has struggled to fulfil expectations at United due to his age and lack of experience in such a high-pressure environment.
Andy Cole, who helped United win the Treble in 1999, highlighted the challenges Hojlund faces as a young striker at a top club like United. Cole explained that when he arrived at the club, he had experienced teammates like Mark Hughes, Eric Cantona, Dwight Yorke, and Teddy Sheringham to learn from and improve his game. He believes that Hojlund lacks the same support and experience to thrive as United’s No. 9.
Cole’s comments were made at the world premiere of a docu-series called 99, where he shared his insights on Hojlund’s situation at United. The former striker emphasized the importance of having experienced players to learn from and grow as a young talent. He expressed sympathy for Hojlund, who has been tasked with the expectations of leading the line for a club as prestigious as Manchester United.
In addition to Hojlund’s struggles, United have faced challenges in the Premier League title race and the Champions League. Roy Keane has pointed out Casemiro as a major problem for United, highlighting the team’s defensive vulnerabilities. Despite these issues, United fans can watch the thrilling climax of the season on TNT Sports. Overall, Hojlund’s difficult debut season at United reflects the challenges young players face in adapting to the demands of a top club without adequate support and guidance.
