Manchester United legends Paul Scholes and Rio Ferdinand found a glimmer of hope in Wednesday’s Champions League loss to Bayern Munich, and that spark came in the form of Rasmus Hojlund.
Hojlund, who recently joined Manchester United in a £64 million transfer, nearly had two goals in two starts for the club, with a bit of VAR controversy in the mix. However, his first official goal for the Red Devils was a source of optimism in an otherwise frustrating match at the Allianz Arena.
Paul Scholes, a two-time Champions League winner with Manchester United in 1999 and 2008, expressed his satisfaction with Hojlund’s breakthrough goal. “I am really pleased for (Hojlund) to get off the mark,” Scholes said to TNT Sport. “That will do him the world of good. It’s a scrappy goal, I suppose, and it gave United hope.”
Indeed, it was a scrappy goal, but it showcased a quality that the club had been missing for some time—a forward with the instinct to react swiftly to loose balls in the penalty area, reminiscent of the legendary Ruud van Nistelrooy. Hojlund’s ability to pounce on chances like a diligent truffle pig brought a refreshing dynamic to Manchester United’s attack.
Rio Ferdinand, a former United defender, echoed Scholes’ sentiment about Hojlund’s impact. While acknowledging concerns about the team’s midfield, Ferdinand found solace in the young Dane’s performance.
Ferdinand expressed his thoughts on Twitter: “Ten Hag post-match (was) spot on. (Manchester United are) too easy to play through at the moment. Positives; Hojlund scoring. (We) need some of the injured lads back as soon as possible. We go again Saturday!”
Manchester United will face Burnley in their upcoming match, and facing a team with just one point on the board might be the perfect opportunity to rebound. The Red Devils are currently enduring their longest losing streak since Federico Macheda’s memorable goal saved Sir Alex Ferguson’s title charge back in 2009.