Erik ten Hag has praised Rasmus Hojlund's "resilience" and "attitude" after after a difficult start with Manchester United since his move this summer.
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Hojlund had a difficult start at Man UtdHas now scored in three straight Premier League gamesTen Hag full of praises for the strikerGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?
The 20-year-old had a rough start to his Old Trafford career, going 14 Premier League games without a goal since joining from Atalanta in the summer for £72 million ($90m). Ten Hag revealed the striker was getting "angry and mad" at this point. However, after breaking his duck against Aston Villa, he has now scored in three straight top-flight games, bringing his season total in all competitions to nine.
AdvertisementWHAT TEN HAG SAID
When asked what he thought of Hojlund's attitude so far despite the difficult start, Ten Hag said [via Manchester United]: "Aye, he is a great character, always keeps going. He always wants to improve. And you see now the team is better and the team is more stable, now we serve the front line better and that he starts scoring. You see there's something growing with Rashy [Marcus Rashford], with [Alejandro] Garnacho, with Bruno [Fernandes] in the back, also other players from the second and the third line. So he's coming more in the position to score.
"But I can tell you, it's not easy for a striker when you have high expectations from yourself. Also, I think the outside world has high expectations to fulfil that, and when it's not working, of course, that is the character every striker needs. He gets angry, he gets mad when he's not scoring but also that's why we selected him."
" He has the resilience and the calmness, and to perform under that stress. He doesn't have any moment that he wants to give up. No, he keeps going every time. He keeps going to put him in the right position. I'm happy that he is now starting to score. Also, that counts for many players for these young players. I think there's a lot of space for improvement but he is still now on very good levels."
GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The Red Devils currently sit in eighth place in the league, nine points behind Tottenham Hotspur in fifth. They will hope that Hojlund can continue his vein of goalscoring form as they will have to fight very hard until the end of the season if they want to make it to the Champions League next season. Currently, the top four spots are occupied by Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Aston Villa, with Spurs sitting close behind.
WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?
The Red Devils will be in action later tonight when they take on sixth-placed West Ham later tonight at Old Trafford. A win would see them rise over the London club and Brighton in fifth place.
