3
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Manchester United’s season, its success or failure, relied upon Rasmus Hojlund adapting to his new membership.
It has confirmed to be true, with United struggling when Hojlund couldn’t purchase a objective within the league, then thriving when he began scoring, then went again to struggling after his damage.
Nonetheless, contemplating the total image, the Dane has blown previous expectations as a 20-year-old taking part in solely his second season in a European top-five league.
As a equally precocious teenager who burst into the scene in thrilling vogue, Owen’s endorsement of Hojlund’s efficiency will come as music to his ears.
In an unique interview with The Peoples Particular person hosted by Betideas, Owen mentioned that Hojlund obtained thrown into the deep finish in less-than-ideal circumstances, however has navigated nicely.
He mentioned: “With the state of affairs at Manchester United, Hojlund has are available and performed on a regular basis. He’s anticipated to be the celebrity and rating on a regular basis.
“He’s nonetheless a younger participant studying the sport and he’s not a full bundle. It’s not straightforward at Manchester United in the intervening time for any participant at any place.”
An enormous criticism levelled at United after the summer season was the identical, that Hojlund because the first-choice could be contentious, however him as the one alternative was extraordinarily poor planning. Owen subscribes to that standpoint, recalling the height United groups that had a humiliation of riches up entrance.
He mentioned: “I prompt prior to now that you need to have a terrific striker and you then would carry Hojlund in to enrich him, to study from him and play just a little bit for a season or two.
“At present, you’re taking part in a participant who doesn’t even wish to be taking part in there (Rashford as a striker). You have a look at the good Manchester United groups, the likes of Yorke, Cole, Sheringham, and Solskjaer, and also you’ve obtained 4 wonderful gamers, all of whom provide one thing totally different.”
Whereas Owen acknowledged the truth that soccer has modified, and groups not often play with two strikers anymore, having just one choice going into the season was not a smart transfer, as could be seen in Rashford’s struggles up entrance this season, one thing which Owen went into intimately right here.
Finally, Ten Hag additionally technically acknowledged this error when he revealed that the membership tried onerous to get a putting reinforcement within the winter window.
Nevertheless, the January window is even more durable than the summer season and the membership needed to hedge all their greatest in Hojlund’s favour.
It could be a raffle that finally ends up costing Ten Hag his job, turning one other Michael Owen assertion prophetic.
