06 November 2023 , 11:59
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Rio Ferdinand has stressed that Manchester United need to start playing to Rasmus Hojlund's strengths after the striker blanked again in the 1-0 win over Fulham.
Hojlund, 20, becamse United's marquee summer signing after leaving Atalanta in a £72million deal and has shown flashes of why Erik ten Hag was determined to bring the coveted forward to Old Trafford. However, Hojlund has plundered just three goals in 13 matches and is yet to open his account in the Premier League.
The striker cut a frustrated figure at Craven Cottage on Saturday and reacted furiously after being withdrawn in the second-half. But Ferdinand is concerned that United are not doing enough to help their new striker in front of goal.
Speaking shortly after a post-match interview with Ten Hag on TNT Sports, Ferdinand said: "I wish we’d had a bit more time with Erik ten Hag [to discuss Hojlund] because he’s invested in a player we’re not seeing the best of. His best attributes are not being seen because the team aren’t playing to his strengths.
"He [Ten Hag] said in his press conferences we want to play a bit more direct with players like Hojlund and Rashford who can play on the counter. Too many times they get wide and the quality is nowhere near good enough. Antony doesn’t want to cross it, his first instinct is to see what he can do for himself. Marcus is more of a striker who wants to get on the end of things and see if he can finish.
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"When he’s making his movements the ball is being delayed and isn’t coming into the areas. He made one fantastic run in the first half and he was screaming for the ball and it ended up being a bad cross from Garnacho.
Join the debate! What have you made of Hojlund so far? Let us know here.
Rasmus Hojlund is still yet to score in the Premier League and cut a frustrated figure in the win over Fulham (Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)"The sooner they get the ball in the box for this guy, he makes good enough runs. Play to his strengths. He’s not old enough to grab a few people and say get the ball into me guys. He’s not go that and I wouldn’t expect that yet. Ruud van Nistelrooy, you didn’t cross the ball for him and I see players resorted to tears because of his demands."
United legend Paul Scholes echoed similar sentiments after United's recent win over FC Copenhagen in the Champions League, where he discussed the type of service Hojlund has been receiving.
After laying out how Hojlund is the type of striker who thrives off balls in the box, he said: “The only problem with that is United don’t really have wide players that cross the ball – [Marcus] Rashford doesn’t, Antony tries to cut inside and shoot every single time, but [Sergio] Reguilon can cross a ball. Luke Shaw is to come back as well.
“I think he can be an aggressive centre-forward that scores those Alan Shearer-type goals, not that he’ll… well, I hope he scores as many as he did!”