Rasmus Hojlund insists he can use his red-hot Champions League form to warm up Manchester United’s Premier League campaign, starting at Old Trafford on Saturday. The United striker, signed from Atalanta for £72million in the summer, has five goals in four starts in Europe’s top-flight competition but none from eight on the domestic front.
But with struggling Luton the visitors at home this weekend, he says his two goals against Copenhagen in United’s dramatic defeat on Wednesday, could help to prise open the floodgates in the Premier League. United have scored just 12 times in 11 games so far.
That is well below their big rivals with Manchester City out ahead on 28 goals, Newcastle on 27, Liverpool on 24 and Arsenal and Tottenham both on 23. Even Brentford, two points below United, have scored seven more goals than the Red Devils.
“It will bring some confidence to the next games and it was a special game for me and it was nice to score two goals,” he said. “It has been irritating and frustrating (not to score in the Premier League) but I cannot do so much about it. That is how football is.
“I cannot stand here with my arms above my head after we just lost a match. Yes it was nice to score two goals but we need a little luck at the moment and we miss the small things.”
Defeat in Copenhagen left United rooted to the bottom of Group A with their hopes of making the knockout stages hanging by a thread and games against Galatasaray in Istanbul and Bayern Munich at home to come.
It also leaves manager Erik ten Hag under increasing pressure with more defeats than victories – United have won eight and lost nine in all competitions – in their season to date. Hojlund insists the dressing room remains 100 per cent committed to turning things around starting with Luton on Saturday.
“He is a really good coach who cares about every single detail. He has helped me a lot, gives me a lot of confidence and supports me,” said the striker. “I think every player in the dressing room support him.
“I hope it is just a matter of time before we are successsful. The first 30 minutes against Copenhagen was some of the best football we have been playing this season. It was just a shame that we conceded a red card because we were playing very well.”
