Craig Burley has named one star as the main culprit behind Manchester United’s poor finishing during their win over Wigan Athletic.
Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United recorded a routine 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic in the third round of the FA Cup but with an expected goal rate of over 4.00, the Red Devils should have scored more.
Goals from Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes won the game for United but Rasmus Hojlund had several opportunities to make it two goals in two games for the Red Devils but he couldn’t convert.
It was a frustrating night for the Danish striker who should have been full of confidence following his goal against Aston Villa at Old Trafford but the 20-year-old once again looked bereft of exactly that.
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Burley on Hojlund
Well, speaking after the game on ESPN, Craig Burley singled out Hojlund for criticism and believes the Dane was the biggest culprit of these missed chances on the night.
“They’re not killing off teams like they should be doing,” Burley said. “I think against Wigan, Rasmus Hojlund was a big culprit behind why they couldn’t kill these teams off. He’s a young lad but he’s playing with the big boys.
“At United, you’ll be scrutinised a lot. You can’t fault his desire and you can’t fault his endeavour but you can fault his finishing, it was poor on the night.”
With just one Premier League goal to his name, it has been a difficult season for the former Atalanta striker and there is no surprise that the Red Devils are looking at the striker market in this window.
Experienced striker needed
At just 20 years of age, the pressure and expectation of leading the line at Old Trafford are bound to weigh heavy on the shoulders of a man who is a United fan.
With the January transfer window now open, a new forward may well need to be targeted, one who could take Hojlund out of the firing line and allow him to rest.
An experienced head, one who can offer something different for United, may well be a smart move and the club have been linked with Bayern Munich striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
The former Stoke City striker, who has winning experience at PSG and Bayern, could be exactly what United, and Hojlund, need.
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