/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2024/02/04/3880159-78836108-2560-1440.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67131045/1261725039.jpg.0.jpg)
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66321622/1206682849.jpg.0.jpg)
‘Awful’ – Rasmus Hojlund’s Man United horror show nearly tempted Troy Deeney out of retirement
Rasmus Hojlund’s performance against Lyon was so ‘awful’, it’s almost convinced Troy Deeney to ‘get fit’ and come out of retirement. Hojlund started up top for Manchester United as they drew 2-2 with Lyon in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie, a result that they’ll be keen to improve on against Newcastle United. Hojlund’s woes in front of goal continued for United against LyonGetty Unfortunately for the Dane, he mustered just two shots the entire contest, one of which was on target. It was a largely ineffectual display from Hojlund as he also completed just four passes for the 63 minutes he was on the field. No player, including their substitutes, made fewer passes for United. In contrast, his replacement Joshua Zirkzee got on the scoresheet in the 88th minute with a close-range header. For Hojlund, the Lyon match meant he has just one goal for the Red Devils in his last 25 matches across all competitions. It is not a run befitting of a striker who was signed from Atalanta for £72million in July 2023. Deeney, a former striker himself, pointed out an alarming element of Hojlund’s game that left him shaking his head at what he described as an ‘awful’ performance. “Based on what I saw against Lyon, I may as well get fit,” Deeney told talkSPORT.com. “No joke. He was awful. He looked confused, he looked lost. “His skill-set is running behind and getting pot-shots off as quick as he can. talkSPORTDeeney did not hold back in his verdict on Hojlund[/caption] “He ran to players, he was marking himself as opposed to a defender marking him. As a striker, we’re always told if a striker can touch you and feel you, then you’re in the wrong position. He was running to the defender. “I just think based on that, he was awful.” Deeney also pointed out that such is the nature of being a striker, dry spells in front of goal can and often will happen. However, the ex-Watford man believes the weight of being United’s leading striker may be too much for Hojlund to bear and it could pave the way for a summer exit. “The thing is, you can have off days in terms of scoring and have a low year,” Deeney said. “But he was getting bullied. It looks like the pressure is getting to him. talkSPORTGoals have been extremely hard to come by for the Dane this season[/caption] “So he will have to have an unbelievable pre-season to stay there.” With Hojlund battling for form and Zirkzee amongst the goals, it leaves United boss Ruben Amorim with a key decision to make going into Sunday’s clash against Newcastle United. If it were up to Deeney, he would sway towards handing Zirkzee a starting berth as he revealed his admiration for the Dutchman’s ‘heart’. “Obviously he had that tough time earlier in the season, got dragged (against Newcastle) and laughed at,” Deeney said. “Since then, he’s just shown a resilience of, ‘No, I’ll show you.’ “I’m disappointed for him in the fact that if (Andre) Onana would have kept that (second goal) out, which he should have done, we’d be talking about how great of a performance it was, Zirkzee scored. “The conversation would be now, is Zirkzee about go on on this run and are we going to see his full potential?” As Deeney alluded to, Zirkzee’s goal could and perhaps should have been the winner. Instead, United gloveman Onana made his second costly error of the evening as his spill allowed Lyon’s Rayan Cherki to slot home from close range for a 95th-minute equaliser. Onana was at fault for Lyon’s first when he misread Thiago Almada’s free-kick from the left. The Cameroonian got two hands to Almada’s effort but it was not strong enough to divert it to safety. What made Onana’s errors all the more high-profile was the fact it came after his war of words with former Red Devils midfielder Nemanja Matic, who was on the bench for Lyon. GettyOnana’s words came back to bite against Lyon as he made two big errors[/caption] Onana stoked the fires of rivalry when he claimed United were the heavy favourites going into the tie, only for Matic to reply by labelling his rival ‘one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history’. The United gloveman clapped back by pointing out Matic failed to win a major trophy during his stint at Old Trafford, something Onana had done twice. Deeney was all for Onana having an opinion, ‘but you can’t back it up with a performance like that.’ “One mistake, things happen,” Deeney said. “Two is terrible. And unless we walked in that room and he was apologetic, like, ‘My fault, sorry lads’, but was sincere with it, he’s going to have to answer some serious questions.” Unfortunately for Onana, the tasks won’t get any easier as he’s set to face Magpies marksman Alexander Isak, who has 20 league goals to his name. GettyIsak is two goals away from scoring his most goals in a single league campaign
Rasmus Hojlund’s performance against Lyon was so ‘awful’, it’s almost convinced Troy Deeney to ‘get fit’ and come out of retirement.
Hojlund started up top for Manchester United as they drew 2-2 with Lyon in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie, a result that they’ll be keen to improve on against Newcastle United.
Unfortunately for the Dane, he mustered just two shots the entire contest, one of which was on target.
It was a largely ineffectual display from Hojlund as he also completed just four passes for the 63 minutes he was on the field.
No player, including their substitutes, made fewer passes for United.
In contrast, his replacement Joshua Zirkzee got on the scoresheet in the 88th minute with a close-range header.
For Hojlund, the Lyon match meant he has just one goal for the Red Devils in his last 25 matches across all competitions.
It is not a run befitting of a striker who was signed from Atalanta for £72million in July 2023.
Deeney, a former striker himself, pointed out an alarming element of Hojlund’s game that left him shaking his head at what he described as an ‘awful’ performance.
“Based on what I saw against Lyon, I may as well get fit,” Deeney told talkSPORT.com.
“No joke. He was awful. He looked confused, he looked lost.
“His skill-set is running behind and getting pot-shots off as quick as he can.
“He ran to players, he was marking himself as opposed to a defender marking him. As a striker, we’re always told if a striker can touch you and feel you, then you’re in the wrong position. He was running to the defender.
“I just think based on that, he was awful.”
Deeney also pointed out that such is the nature of being a striker, dry spells in front of goal can and often will happen.
However, the ex-Watford man believes the weight of being United’s leading striker may be too much for Hojlund to bear and it could pave the way for a summer exit.
“The thing is, you can have off days in terms of scoring and have a low year,” Deeney said.
“But he was getting bullied. It looks like the pressure is getting to him.
“So he will have to have an unbelievable pre-season to stay there.”
With Hojlund battling for form and Zirkzee amongst the goals, it leaves United boss Ruben Amorim with a key decision to make going into Sunday’s clash against Newcastle United.
If it were up to Deeney, he would sway towards handing Zirkzee a starting berth as he revealed his admiration for the Dutchman’s ‘heart’.
“Obviously he had that tough time earlier in the season, got dragged (against Newcastle) and laughed at,” Deeney said.
“Since then, he’s just shown a resilience of, ‘No, I’ll show you.’
“I’m disappointed for him in the fact that if (Andre) Onana would have kept that (second goal) out, which he should have done, we’d be talking about how great of a performance it was, Zirkzee scored.
“The conversation would be now, is Zirkzee about go on on this run and are we going to see his full potential?”
As Deeney alluded to, Zirkzee’s goal could and perhaps should have been the winner.
Instead, United gloveman Onana made his second costly error of the evening as his spill allowed Lyon’s Rayan Cherki to slot home from close range for a 95th-minute equaliser.
Onana was at fault for Lyon’s first when he misread Thiago Almada’s free-kick from the left.
The Cameroonian got two hands to Almada’s effort but it was not strong enough to divert it to safety.
What made Onana’s errors all the more high-profile was the fact it came after his war of words with former Red Devils midfielder Nemanja Matic, who was on the bench for Lyon.
Onana stoked the fires of rivalry when he claimed United were the heavy favourites going into the tie, only for Matic to reply by labelling his rival ‘one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history’.
The United gloveman clapped back by pointing out Matic failed to win a major trophy during his stint at Old Trafford, something Onana had done twice.
Deeney was all for Onana having an opinion, ‘but you can’t back it up with a performance like that.’
“One mistake, things happen,” Deeney said.
“Two is terrible. And unless we walked in that room and he was apologetic, like, ‘My fault, sorry lads’, but was sincere with it, he’s going to have to answer some serious questions.”
Unfortunately for Onana, the tasks won’t get any easier as he’s set to face Magpies marksman Alexander Isak, who has 20 league goals to his name.
Newcastle have not been held scoreless in their last five games across all competitions, an omen that certainly doesn’t bode well for Amorim’s side.
The Magpies will look to make it four league wins on the bounce as they continue their push for a return to the Champions League.
However, they will have to do it without manager Eddie Howe on Sunday as the Newcastle boss was admitted to hospital due to illness.
In Howe’s place, Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones would lead the first team against United.
Victory over United would lift the Magpies into the top five and leapfrog fourth-placed Manchester City and fifth-placed Aston Villa, who are on 55 and 54 points respectively.
