Paul Scholes and Dimitar Berbatov criticise Manchester United star Rasmus Højlund
After the international break, Manchester United looked poised to build some momentum, having used the time off to regroup and prepare for the final stretch of the season. But things didn’t go according to plan.
They suffered a defeat to Nottingham Forest, followed by a goalless draw against local rivals Manchester City. The performance against City at Old Trafford mirrored the one against Forest, United showed glimpses of attacking promise and created several chances, but ultimately failed to convert any into goals.
Bruno Fernandes once again stood out as the best player on the pitch, but the underwhelming performances of those around him drew fresh criticism, most notably from Dimitar Berbatov, as highlighted by The Express.
Former United striker Dimitar Berbatov didn’t hold back in his assessment of Rasmus Højlund following a third consecutive underwhelming performance. There had been optimism surrounding the Danish forward after he scored against Leicester and again during the international break for Denmark, but that brief spark now looks to have been a false dawn as Højlund slips back into poor form.
He started brightly in the Manchester derby, nearly assisting Alejandro Garnacho with a clever flick, but his influence quickly faded. As the game wore on, Højlund struggled—losing duels, misplacing touches, and becoming a liability in the final third. After the match, Berbatov, a man who knows what it takes to lead the line at Old Trafford, delivered some pointed criticism.
Both Berbatov and other former United greats expressed concern over the young striker’s regression, highlighting the urgent need for improvement if Højlund is to live up to expectations.
Here is what Berbatovs said:
“He’s wasting energy on places he shouldn’t be. He is trying to help the team, and prove himself by running everywhere but he should focus on scoring instead.”
“Because then when the ball comes, the body and brain connection isn’t there in dangerous areas. The service he’s getting isn’t good enough either.”
Paul Scholes has been a consistent critic of Rasmus Højlund, recently echoing Dimitar Berbatov’s concerns by questioning the striker’s long-term potential. Scholes claimed that Højlund lacks the qualities of a clinical finisher, noting that the Danish forward often looks flat and lifeless when he finally receives the ball—largely because he exhausts himself by aimlessly “running here and there” instead of conserving energy and positioning himself more effectively.
“He’s running there, running here, and when the ball comes on to him, he’s flat, dead. You can’t coach forwards after a certain age.”
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Ruben Amorim remains hopeful that confidence and creativity will eventually unlock Rasmus Højlund’s full potential. However, with Chido Obi, and particularly Joshua Zirkzee, making a bigger impact despite receiving far less service, Højlund’s ongoing struggles have become even more glaring. Dimitar Berbatov’s recent advice might just be the wake-up call the young striker needs. Taking it to heart could be the first step toward reigniting his form and proving his critics wrong.