Former Premier League title winner Chris Sutton has sympathy for Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund.
The 20-year-old was signed from Atalanta this summer in a deal that cost United a whopping £72 million, and he was instantly expected to lead the line as our main goalscorer. It’s not like Anthony Martial was expected to do much as his back-up option!
Chris Sutton blames Hojlund’s lack of goals in the Premier League on United’s wingers and the lack of service they are providing him. However, the young Dane did not struggle for goals in the Champions League after scoring five goals during the group phase.
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Speaking on Mail Sport’s It’s All Kicking Off podcast, Sutton explained how performances from wide players like Antony haven’t helped Hojlund’s case.
“I don’t want to keep going back to Manchester United, but we watched Hojlund the other night, I felt really sorry for him,” Sutton said, as quoted by the Mirror. “I feel really sorry for him. He looks like a player that is a little bit low on confidence now, but I don’t think that he has an understanding of how he can score a goal at Manchester United because the wide players want the ball for themselves.
“Antony, the other night, never got his head up. Pass, follow, link-up – there aren’t combinations. And that’s a massive issue.”
I laughed as I read Sutton claim he doesn’t like going back to United all of the time, yet it is how he sells his podcast each week.
That said, I don’t think any United fans will disagree with what he says about Hojlund and the lack of service. We’ve all been sat there at times this season feeling sorry for the new signing because it is clear he’s got ability to make it at the top.
Sutton mentioned Antony but he is also taking about Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford. The players we usually have available on the left flank have been guilty of not providing Hojlund with the best – or any – service.
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