Manchester United star Rasmus Hojlund comes under fire following Wolves’ no-show
It was a dismal Easter Sunday for Manchester United, who slumped to a 1-0 home defeat against bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers. Just days after their thrilling 5-4 comeback victory over Lyon in the Europa League, the Red Devils appeared sluggish and out of sync at Old Trafford. Despite enjoying 60% possession and registering 12 shots to Wolves’ four, United failed to turn their dominance into meaningful chances. Their wastefulness in front of goal proved costly, as Pablo Sarabia curled home a sublime free-kick late in the second half to snatch all three points for the visitors.
There was little goalkeeper André Onana could do to prevent Sarabia’s outstanding free-kick, but the blame for United’s defeat quickly shifted elsewhere. Sky Sports pundits Peter Stevenson and Jamie O’Hara pointed the finger at Rasmus Højlund, criticising the striker for United’s lack of attacking threat. Højlund has struggled to establish himself as a reliable No.9, missing several straightforward chances in front of goal.
While his performances on the pitch have been underwhelming, it’s his activity off the pitch, particularly on Instagram, that has drawn just as much attention. His frequent, sometimes cryptic captions have sparked a back-and-forth with fans and trolls alike, leading O’Hara to quip that Højlund might have posted more Instagram captions than goals this season.
Pundits went all out on the Danish International
Stevenson and O’Hara were particularly critical of Rasmus Højlund for a costly moment during the match. Stevenson highlighted a squandered counterattack, noting that Højlund failed to play a simple pass to Kobbie Mainoo, who had made an intelligent run into space. O’Hara echoed the frustration, adding that the striker hesitated far too long, allowing Wolves to regroup and kill off the opportunity. He ended with a damning assessment, suggesting that the incident summed up Højlund’s time at Manchester United, full of potential, but ultimately let down by poor decision-making and a lack of composure in key moments.
“not good enough, nowhere near the required standard.”
Stevenson added salt to the wound by commenting on SkySports, that
“Another bad day in the Premier League for United, as Wolves record their first win at Old Trafford since 1980,”
“It’s their fifth win on the bounce and takes them to 38 points alongside their hosts.”
“Hojlund will look back ruefully on a hat-trick of missed chances,”
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Højlund’s latest underwhelming performance adds to what has been a largely disappointing debut Premier League season. With just three goals and one assist in 28 appearances, the Danish striker has yet to justify the £70 million fee United paid for him last summer. As reports suggest Manchester United are eyeing a move for a proven, veteran striker in the upcoming transfer window, Højlund will need to raise his game quickly if he hopes to remain a key figure in Ruben Amorim’s long-term plans.