He’s the only Man United player that I’m afraid of currently,I know what I saw when I faced Him last season,I pray He won’t be available today”, Fulham coach reveals the only Man United player that He have ordered His players to pin Mark today
He’s the only Man United player that I’m afraid of currently,I know what I saw when I faced Him last season,I pray He won’t be available today”, Fulham coach reveals the only Man United player that He have ordered His players to pin Mark today
Paul Scholes made his feelings perfectly clear on Rasmus Hojlund after dropping a prediction for the Manchester United striker’s season under manager Erik ten Hag.
Rasmus Hojlund arrived at Old Trafford last summer after Manchester United signed him for a hefty £72m transfer fee from Serie A side Atalanta.
The 21-year-old Danish forward had a mixed debut season in England, with Hojlund scoring 16 times in 43 appearances across all competitions for United.
Hojlund impressed during the Champions League campaign for the Red Devils, with the United star scoring five times in six matches last season.
However, the Denmark striker went his first 14 Premier League matches of the 2023-24 campaign without finding the back of the net.
Hojlund, who received the backing of Erik ten Hag, enjoyed a rich vein of form during the second half of the season before an injury curtailed his run.
The former Atalanta man was able to end the Premier League season by scoring 10 times in 30 matches, with Hojlund making 25 league starts for the Red Devils.
Scholes’ Hojlund prediction
Paul Scholes and Jamie Carragher appeared on The Overlap and the audience was asked if Rasmus Hojlund would score 20 times for Manchester United next season.
The Denmark international also faces competition in the United XI after Erik ten Hag signed Netherlands striker Joshua Zirkzee from Serie A side Bologna.
When asked by Jamie Carragher about Hojlund, Scholes admitted that the United star is “capable” of hitting the 20-mark goalscoring tally after a difficult first season.
“Yeah, of course he is. I hope,” he said.
“You know I think he’s capable. He’s another year into it, a young lad coming over [and] trying to lead the line, as we said before at Man United, it’s very difficult.
“There were times in the season where I was concerned… he wasn’t getting chances at times. I think the lad can finish when he gets chances.
“I think in the Champions League he was brilliant. I think he scored five or six goals in the group stages but just couldn’t transfer that to the Premier League. But I think he’d be… he’ll be stronger, he’ll be better this year.
Scholes on Hojlund strengthening up
Scholes previously played down the expectation that Hojlund could score 25 times in a season, with the United legend admitting he would be “amazed” if he managed it.
However, the 49-year-old former United midfielder believes that Hojlund will “strengthen up” and increase his goalscoring tally due to the “creativity around him.”
“I think he’ll strengthen up this year as well,” Scholes said.
“I thought after 65, 70 minutes he just looks dead. Now that’s leading your line on your own, of course it is, and you just learn little bits, ‘I don’t have to go and close him down there. I’ll just, you know, save myself a little bit for important moments of the game.’
“And he’s going to have creativity around him. You think [Alejandro] Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes. There should be enough chances.
“Just whether he can take them and I think the evidence of the Champions League last year when got chances, he’s shown the composure to finish well.”
