Former Manchester United defender Paul Parker has had his say on Rasmus Hojlund’s tumultuous start to life at Old Trafford.
The 20-year-old finally ended his tedious 14-game wait for a Premier League goal on Boxing Day, opening his account in his 15th outing in England’s top division with a crucial 82nd-minute winner to claim all three points against the rampant Aston Villa.
Now, Hojlund will be looking to kick on and add to his tally with every opportunity, starting with Saturday’s trip to the City Ground to face 16th-placed Nottingham Forest.
When making the switch from Atalanta in the summer, pundits, neutrals and even the United faithful were taken aback by his £72 million price tag, given his age and experience – or lack thereof – in senior football.
While, of course, Hojlund has no say in his transfer fee, it will always bring increased amounts of pressure on his shoulders with the expectation to hit the ground running. This could very easily take its toll on a young player, especially in the most-watched league in Europe, so it came as no surprise when his celebrations were filled with elation and relief on Tuesday night.
Parker on Hojlund’s media attention
Speaking to Tipsbladet, Parker explained his thoughts on how Hojlund was put in a highly-scrutinised position from the moment he became a Red.
“Everyone hates Manchester United and Rasmus Hojlund. Experts and critics hope that he fails because he plays for the world’s biggest club, which nobody likes. The good thing is that the fans have always supported him, and they will continue to do so.”
“I think he has been frustrated with his teammates because they don’t provide him with the best conditions to score goals,” he continued. “The good thing about Hojlund is that he doesn’t show it on the field, and he never behaves like a diva, which we have seen especially Cristiano Ronaldo do in the past.
“I think he might face a tough time now. If you think the critics will be quiet, you are mistaken. Expectations are higher for him now, and everyone will expect him to score consistently. So, I believe that the next goal, if possible, will be even more important but also more challenging for him because he has to prove that it wasn’t a lucky punch.”
