1 week Ago By Alex Turk
Manchester United flaunted a familiar frailty when Manchester City visited Old Trafford in one of the most tranquil derbies between the two clubs in history on Sunday. As they did in their previous 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest, Ruben Amorim 's side would've felt they deserved more than they took, but the same problem deterred them once again. United will be languishing far below the Premier League summit as long as Bruno Fernandes looks like the team's only attacking player with a killer instinct - or any final-third quality at all.
Rasmus Hojlund started as Amorim's striker but failed to score for the 23rd time in 26 league games this season. The 22-year-old didn't even manage a shot, taking just 15 touches of the ball before making way for Joshua Zirkzee in the 71st minute. That's nothing new.
It's no surprise Hojlund has only scored three times in the Premier League this term. United's desperation for a new goalscorer couldn't be clearer. His lack of service has been a common counter-argument against those slating the Denmark international's mediocre output while donning the No.
9 shirt. Yet, while former United striker Dimitar Berbatov agrees that his team-mates couldn't create more, he has suggested that Hojlund's actions off the ball are having a negative impact. "He's wasting energy on places he shouldn't be.
He is trying to help the team and prove himself by running everywhere, but he should focus on scoring instead," Berbatov said after full-time. "Because then when the ball comes, the body and brain connection isn't there in dangerous areas. The service he's getting isn't good enough either.
" Paul Scholes agreed with Berbatov by also claiming that Hojlund is making runs with no real aim or idea. The iconic Red Devils midfielder went as far as to hint that he was losing faith in Hojlund, implying his shortcomings can't be coached out of him. Scholes said: "He's running there, running here, and when the ball comes on to him, he's flat, dead.
You can't coach forwards after a certain age." In his post-match press conference, Amorim repeated that United can't win football games without scoring goals. Those comments followed his assessment before derby day, in which he expressed his plan to sign one or two "big players" for next season.
A striker will be one of them. The pedigree of goalscorer United can attract could rely on the club's Champions League status. Amorim needs to guide his side to Europa League glory, with a quarter-final trip to Lyon looming over the horizon.
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