In the summer of 2023,
Manchester United signed the Danish rising star Rasmus Hojlund
from Serie A team Atalanta for approximately 100 billion won (74 million euros).
This acquisition aimed to address the long-standing absence of a striker in the Manchester United lineup, looking towards the future with the signing of a promising young player born in 2003 and costing a significant amount.
However, as of January 2024, the performance of Hojlund at Manchester United in the midway point of the 23-24 season is quite disappointing.
While he scored 5 goals in the Champions League, the team failed to advance beyond the Round of 16.
In the Premier League, despite scoring a crucial comeback goal in the last match against Aston Villa, marking his first league goal,
Manchester United's main striker has only scored 6 goals halfway through the season.
The frustration among Manchester United fans is understandable,
considering the hefty transfer fee and high expectations associated with the young player, Hojlund.
It's important to note that, despite being a promising young talent, Hoilund wasn't initially known for prolific goal-scoring.
While one might argue that a striker's primary role is scoring goals,
it's challenging to expect him to be a goal-scoring machine, at least not yet.
Even though he showcased goal-scoring prowess with the Danish national team,
his track record at Atalanta didn't reflect consistent prolific goal-scoring.
While he possesses the instincts of a forward, there seems to be a constant 2% lacking in his game, resulting in missed opportunities.
For Hoilund to meet the high expectations,
he needs to break through and showcase that next level of goal-scoring ability,
hopefully sooner rather than later.
Let's examine the tactical aspect.
Even a simple comparison with his time at Atalanta shows a remarkably low goal tally now.
In 32 games with Atalanta, he scored 9 goals,
while at Manchester United, he has scored only 1 goal in 15 games so far.
The goal-scoring ratio has drastically decreased.
The most significant change, in my opinion,
lies in the situations and positions in which Hojlund receives the ball.
Looking at scenes and stats from his time at Atalanta,
it's evident that he often received the ball in higher positions.
Moreover, he tended to play quickly after receiving the ball,
making decisions and executing within a short timeframe, whether it resulted in a shot or a pass.
Statistically, when examining the locations where he received passes,
62% were in the final third, and 19% were in the opponent's box.
On the contrary, the current statistics at Manchester United paint a different picture.
The percentage of passes received in the final third has dropped significantly to 51%, a 10% decrease. Similarly, receiving passes in the opponent's box has decreased to 16%.
Watching actual games, it's noticeable that Hojlund often has to drop deeper to receive passes.
Even when receiving the ball in higher positions, he is frequently surrounded by defenders.
While these changes are likely influenced by the differing standings of Atalanta and Manchester United in their respective leagues, variations in tactical approaches, and the quality of opponents and teammates, it's clear that significant differences have emerged.
Certainly, overcoming such challenges is a part of a player's journey.
If a player insists only on what they were good at and what they can do without addressing these changes,
they may remain at a certain level.
In conclusion, it's premature to judge the trajectory of this player.
However, adapting to the altered environment and achieving growth now depends on both the player himself and the coach.
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