Manchester United manager, Erik ten Hag, remains confident in Rasmus Højlund’s ability to break his Premier League goalscoring drought. Højlund, who was signed in the summer for a reported fee of £64 million ($82 million) from Atalanta, had an impressive record of 16 goals last season. However, he has yet to find the net in his 13 appearances in the Premier League this season.
Ten Hag praises Højlund’s mindset and believes that the young player thrives under pressure. Speaking at a news conference ahead of Saturday’s match against West Ham United, Ten Hag said, “We are open, he is open. His mentality is great. I think he is a very good performer under stress and he deals with that.”
While Højlund’s struggle to score goals is a concern, Ten Hag emphasizes that improving the team’s scoring record is a collective effort. He highlights the importance of other players, including Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Bruno Fernandes, and Scott McTominay, in contributing to the team’s goal-scoring abilities. Ten Hag also emphasizes the role of the full backs in creating goal-scoring opportunities.
Improvement and Squad Depth
Manchester United has failed to find the back of the net in their last three games, including losses to Bournemouth and Bayern Munich, as well as a goalless draw against Liverpool. Ten Hag acknowledges the need for improvement, stating, “We played good in those games, but we should have created more chances and we should have been more clinical.” He calls for better movement and decision-making in the attacking third.
To address their current struggles, Ten Hag believes that having a fully-fit squad will be crucial. He anticipates that with a more balanced squad, the team will create more scoring opportunities and improve their finishing. It is important for United to have a strong attacking presence with all 11 players contributing.
Unfortunately, injuries and illnesses continue to hinder Manchester United. Ten Hag reveals that they have some doubts and illnesses within the squad and will have to assess the availability of players for the upcoming match. Players such as Casemiro, Lisandro Martínez, and Mason Mount are expected to return in January, while Harry Maguire is likely to recover sooner. Victor Lindelöf, however, remains unavailable.
Erik ten Hag remains optimistic about Rasmus Højlund’s goal-scoring abilities and the team’s overall performance in front of goal. Acknowledging the need for improvement, Ten Hag emphasizes the collective effort required to address their current struggles. With a fully-fit squad and better decision-making, Manchester United aims to create more chances and convert them into goals. However, injuries and illnesses continue to pose challenges for the team, requiring careful management and assessment of available players.