Rasmus Hojlund scored the equaliser for Man Utd at Bournemouth on Sunday but he had only one shot in a game when his teammates had 24.
Rasmus Hojlund celebrates scoring for United at Bournemouth
Bruno Fernandes said Manchester United players must find a way to play to the strengths of their attackers after trying to ease the burden on striker Rasmus Hojlund.
The Dane scored his fourth Premier League goal of the season at the Vitality Stadium on Sunday, turning in a 96th-minute equaliser against Bournemouth. The goal will give Hojlund a shot in the arm ahead of the Europa League semi-final against Athletic Bilbao, when he must lead the line at San Mames and Old Trafford.
It had looked like another afternoon of frustration for the £64million striker, but he was in the right place to turn home Manuel Ugarte’s shot to salvage a point against the 10-man Cherries. But remarkably, it was Hojlund’s first shot of a game in which the team racked up 25 attempts, although that is arguably a failing of the system as much as the No.9.
There were times when Hojlund again showed his frustration at the quality of service coming into him, but he can’t be accused of missing chances when he gets so few. This was his 25th shot in 29 Premier League appearances this season, and while Fernandes suggested Hojlund could adapt his own game at times, he suggested more chances needed to be created for the team’s primary attacker.
“He just has to look at his game and see what he can get from our players,” said Fernandes. “We need to understand the characteristics of every player on the pitch.
“You need as a striker to read whoever is on the ball, what kind of movements you can do. If the player on the ball is capable of doing a pass in behind or a risky pass or whatever, we can’t make the same runs for every player that is on the ball.
“As a team, we need to improve a lot. We need to improve to play to the strengths of everyone and as a player, as wingers, as a ten, as a midfielder, we need to play for the strengths of our wingers, strikers or wherever.
“We need to find the best way for them to score goals. If we’re creating the chances we’re creating and still not scoring goals, we have to find a way to create more and more chances.”
With Joshua Zirkzee injured and Chido Obi ineligible, Hojlund will be under pressure to deliver in a European semi-final that will go a long way toward defining United’s season.
He had played just 69 games for FC Copenhagen, Sturm Graz, and Atalanta before moving to Old Trafford in the summer of 2023, but although he remains inexperienced, Fernandes doesn’t believe the pressure to lead the line at United is any greater than elsewhere.
“Playing for Man United, it’s always being under the spotlight and you have to be prepared for that,” he said. “If you’re still not prepared, you need to prepare yourself for what’s coming and for every game ahead.
“You can’t pay too much attention to the outside world because the number nine will have pressure anywhere because number nine is expected to score goals, so whether he’s not scoring for Man United or any other club, you will always get the spotlight.
“It’s been a difficult season for everyone. We can’t hide behind Rasmus not scoring as many goals as we wanted him to score. The team is not scoring as many goals as we should. We can’t put everything on Rasmus not scoring goals. He has to score more. He’s the number nine of the team. Josh has to score more. I have to score more. Garna has to score more. Mason, Amad.
“Whoever plays up front needs to score more goals and then as a team also we need to create more and score more goals because if we create the chances we’re creating and we’re not scoring enough, we need to try to find a way of creating more chances for the team to score.”
Scoring goals will undoubtedly be a challenge against Athletic, who boast the best defensive record in La Liga and sit a comfortable fourth in Spain’s top division.
Ernesto Valverde’s side have the motivation of reaching a final to be held on home soil, while United know winning the competition will provide an unexpected route into the Champions League after a dismal Premier League campaign. However, Fernandes is reluctant to frame the competition as a potential reward after an unfulfilling season.
“I wouldn’t say I reward, I think it will be successful in Europa League because we started Europa League [well] and we want to go until the end of the competition,” he said.
“I think for us it’s very important to do that, to get the silverware this season. It won’t save anything but we’ll be a huge success in Europa League, that’s all.”