Rasmus Hojlund, who once dazzled the Premier League as the youngest-ever player to score in six successive games, now finds himself in a perplexing goal drought a year later. Despite his relentless efforts to find the back of the net, Hojlund's numbers have suffered as Manchester United's strategic play focuses on wider areas. This tactical shift has led to the striker having only 5.83 touches per 90 minutes played in the opposition area this season, ranking him among those with the least engagement in crucial attacking zones. Consequently, Hojlund's expected goals (xG) per game stand at a mere 0.20, placing him in the bottom tier for this metric.
Hojlund has endured a challenging period of 14 games across all competitions without scoring, including nine Premier League matches without a single goal. The struggle of United's forwards to effectively connect with their centre-forward has further impacted Hojlund's performance. Under Ruben Amorim's leadership, Hojlund has started eight out of the first thirteen Premier League outings and has been featured in all but one game. Despite his presence on the pitch, among Premier League strikers who have played at least 432 minutes this season, Hojlund takes the least shots per game, reflecting his ongoing woes in front of goal.
Hojlund's frustration with his goal drought has become evident on the pitch. However, Ruben Amorim views this behavior as a reflection of Hojlund's character rather than a problem. Amorim has likened Hojlund's situation to that of Viktor Gyokeres, who emerged as one of Europe's most sought-after centre-forwards under his guidance.
"But this is a character, and if you know so many players from that kind of character that he has from that country, they always want more. They want to score, they feel the critics." – Ruben Amorim
Amorim acknowledges that a striker needs strong team support to thrive, and he believes that United's current setup is not providing the necessary assistance for its strikers.
"So, it's a good thing, but he will improve. And a striker needs a very good team to deliver very good balls for him, and we are not helping our strikers at the moment." – Ruben Amorim
The manager attributes Hojlund's struggles more to a collective team issue than an individual shortcoming.
"I think it's more a team problem than a Rasmus problem," – Ruben Amorim
Despite Hojlund's apparent frustrations on the field, Amorim remains supportive of his player's passionate demeanor.
"I think it's a good thing. I will not say one word bad about this type of behaviour," – Ruben Amorim
Hojlund's decline in performance metrics signals a deeper concern within United's offensive strategy. His minimal touches in the opposition area and low shot frequency highlight the systemic issues affecting their attacking play. As Amorim works to adapt and refine the team's approach, the hope is that Hojlund will rediscover his scoring prowess and regain his position as a formidable force in front of goal.
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