Manchester United take on Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-final this weekend looking for a spark to ignite a flailing season.
It’s been a wretched season for Manchester United. There was one moment which will live on, long in the memory, the stunning 4-3 victory over Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final.
A subsequent international break ensured there was no momentum from that victory, with the team winless in four Premier League matches since.
This weekend the team face Coventry City at Wembley, a match where Manchester United cannot take the result for granted, especially with so many players out of form, including striker Rasmus Hojlund.
Rasmus Hojlund out of form
Manchester United fans are learning that Rasmus Hojlund is a very streaky player. After failing to score in the Premier League between his September debut and late December, he then suddenly couldn’t stop hitting the back of the net.
Hojlund enjoyed a prolific January and February, before suffering an injury in training. Since making his comeback as a starter in the quarter-final against Liverpool, he has been badly off the pace, and not looked like scoring.
| Opponent | Mins played | Player Rating | Goals |
| v Liverpool | 71 | 6.5 | 0 |
| v Brentford | 90 | 5.9 | 0 |
| v Chelsea | 66 | 6.8 | 0 |
| v Liverpool | 90 | 6.6 | 0 |
| v Bournemouth | 90 | 6.6 | 0 |
Hojlund has no assists in these games either and has looked largely invisible. You point to a lack of service being a contributory factor, rightly, but he needs to start finding solutions like he was prior to his injury, and taking advantages of the chances he does get.
We have seen that one goal can spark Hojlund into life. His strike on Boxing Day against Aston Villa set off a chain reaction of goals which he carried on into the following matches.
Now, Manchester United need him to step up and find the back of the net again, in his first appearance for the club at Wembley.
The season is petering out and a victory this weekend is essential. An important goal for Hojlund will give him, and the team, some life for the remaining Premier League games.
Most expensive summer signing
Rasmus Hojlund was Manchester United’s most expensive summer signing in 2023 at £64 million. He is the club’s six-most expensive signing of all time.
It’s been a mixed season for him, without consistency. He is the club’s top goalscorer, an achievement, but less so in the context that his tally of 13 is fairly meagre.
This is of course, a Manchester United team which struggles for goals in general. Erik ten Hag‘s United have never beaten an opponent by more than three goals, and this season have a Premier League goal difference tally of -1.
An easy win this weekend would be nice, but Manchester United never do things easily. So if we are going to get a narrow win, somebody has to step up and net the winner. Why not Hojlund?