Manchester United had a lot to celebrate about their first pre-season win of the season as Amad and Joe Hugill’s goals consigned the Rangers to a 2-0 loss.
From Leny Yoro’s debut heroics to Amad’s wing brilliance and Hugill finding his shooting boots, the squad will be full of confidence as they head to the USA.
Hugill had a tough outing in the first pre-season game, as Rosenborg pushed him completely to the fringes of the game.
He remains a work in progress, struggling to make an impact in the buildup or pressing as his game looks limited to scoring if chances are created for him.
After his exploits vs Rangers, he credited one man for the improvement in his game, and his comments make it look like the plan is working.
Joe Hugill’s ‘massive’ improvement
It was notable how clinically Hugill ran onto Maxi Oyedele’s smart through ball and finished past Jack Butland with a thunderous shot.
While it was a brilliant pass, scoring from there is hardly a guarantee, and the confidence with which Hugill took it spoke volumes about the belief he has coursing through his veins now.
After the game, Hugill said a huge part of it was down to one man, whose presence has been “massive”.
That man is Ruud van Nistelrooy, the new addition to Erik ten Hag’s coaching staff. It was thought that his presence would be a huge boost to the strikers at the club and it looks like that is proving to be the case.
Hugill spoke to the club website after the game: “We’ve been doing a few shooting drills, and he’s been giving me a few tips.
“It’s massive having Ruud here, especially for people like myself, young and coming up, to have him in the building, even to ask questions, is massive.”
A change vindicated
Hugill’s comments will be music to the ears of fans and players alike. Getting a fresh voice in the dressing room is always useful and something that Sir Alex Ferguson did regularly to shake things up.
Ruud van Nistelrooy brings that fresh voice and more, as his legendary status means he instantly commands respect as well.
Most importantly, he was extremely good at the intangibles, like positioning in the box and anticipation, which are the most crucial qualities for a clinical striker.
If he can start transferring that knowledge to United’s striker’s crop, which, by the way, could add one of England’s most exciting talents in Chido Obi-Martin, it would be a recipe for success.
The impact he has had in less than a month at United has been massive and when Rasmus Hojlund and Co. return next week, all eyes will be on him as he starts working with Van Nistelrooy too.
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