Former Manchester United star worried for Rasmus Hojlund, says he has ‘massive pressure on his shoulders’
Gary Neville, who has been a veteran in the sport, is concerned about the pressure on Hajlund's young shoulders.
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Rasmus Hajlund during his unveiling at the Stretford End at Old Trafford (Source: Manchester United Website)
According to ESPN, Rasmus Hojlund completed his move to Manchester United for £64 million ($82m) plus another £8m ($10m). While he had netted nine goals in Serie A last season, it’s no fallacy that the fans already have high expectations from their new forward. The 20-year-old had confessed that he had been a fan of the Manchester club since he was a little boy.
Football commentator, Gary Neville, is known for his outspoken persona. He recently said, “I’m worried that we’ve got this kid up-front that, to be fair, has massive pressure on his shoulders.” The striker completed his medical for United and was found to have sustained a small issue during his pre-season training with Atalanta and is not ready to play yet.
The Manchester club believes that it could take Rasmus Hajlund some weeks to retain his fitness, and they are not too keen on rushing their player to the pitch. Hajlund used to wear the number 17 for his previous club, Atalanta, and has also donned the number 9 for Sturm Graz. It will be interesting to see which number this young striker picks up, given that most of them have a legacy to follow and step in their footsteps.
From Wayne Rooney to Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie, Manchester United has witnessed some great strikers represent the Red Devil badge in the current era. However, with the pressures and expectations set on the players in the modern game, it will only be fair to expect this youngster to take it positively and grow into it instead of crumbling under pressure. As said by Hajlund himself, he is super excited to play for the Red Devils, so it will be interesting to see his debut.
Eric Ten Hag’s test in his second season in charge of the Red Devils
Manchester United announced on April 21, 2022, that they were signing Dutch manager Eric Ten Hag. The former Ajax boss came in with a decent record with the club in the Netherlands, having won the Eredivisie three times in his time. His most memorable season was when he helped the club reach the UCL semis in 2019, when they won over powerhouses like Real Madrid.
Having reached two finals and finished third in the Premier League, he certainly has set foot in England with a new approach for the club. The Red Devils won the Carabao Cup after a while last season, while they stood no chance against Manchester City in the FA Cup and Premier League. Eric Ten Hag was famously heard saying, “Eras come to an end,” when talking about City and Liverpool, only to eventually lose 6-3 and 7-0 to them, respectably.
With major signings like Andre Onana, Antony, Licha Martinez, Casemiro, Mason Mount, and now Hojlund under Eric Ten Hag and having spent millions, expectations will indeed be soaring high for them to win significant trophies now. The team certainly has potential, and he has taken tough decisions by not keeping Ronaldo. Still, it will be essential to see how these significant decisions play a part in shaping his legacy as the Manchester United Boss.
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Subhasish Deb
(863 Articles Published)