Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag admits does not know why the squad's standards have regressed this season and admitted some players did not run "in the right moments" in the defeat to Bayern Munich
03.09.2023 - 03:37 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Erik ten Hag believes Rasmus Hojlund has the bravery and the personality to deal with the pressure of becoming Manchester United's leading man when he makes his debut at Arsenal today.
The 20-year-old was United's most expensive signing of the summer, joining in a £72million deal from Atalanta, but he has spent just one season in Serie A and must now come to terms with the expectations of being the centre-forward at United.
Hojlund scored nine goals in 32 appearances in Serie A last season and moved to Old Trafford just a year after he left Sturm Graz for Atalanta for €17million and 18 months after he joined the Austrians from FC Copenhagen for €1.8million. The Denmark international was recovering from a back injury when his move was confirmed and he has missed the first three games of the season as he builds match fitness, but will be in the squad to face Arsenal at the Emirates.
Ten Hag made signing a striker his top priority for the summer window and initially wanted Harry Kane, before United decided doing a deal with Daniel Levy would be too complex. Kane moved to Bayern Munich instead.
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Hojlund will now be compared to Kane's success in the Bundesliga this season and he has to shoulder the burden of being the frontman of United's attack despite his relative inexperience.
But Ten Hag insists the club did due diligence into his mentality as well as his ability and is confident that Hojlund has what it takes to handle that pressure.
"He is brave and that's enough. He has belief and the rest will come," said Ten Hag. "We scouted about the skill and personality. Yes, everywhere he has been so far - Austria and Italy - he's made a big impact. You
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