Rasmus Hojlund opens up on Manchester United price tag and Erling Haaland comparisons
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Rasmus Hojlund has had a strong start to his Man Utd career but he is keen to win the Premier League against Manchester City.
Rasmus Hojlund has advised people not to compare him to Erling Haaland goes head-to-head with the Scandinavian striker at Old Trafford this weekend, but the confident Dane is ready to make a big impression on English football.
The 20-year-old spoke out after helping Manchester United beat former club FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Tuesday night. He stood in front of a large group of British and Danish journalists, one arm around his younger brother Oscar and easily switching between languages as he reflected on a night that made his family proud and his beginnings in the Premier League.
Oscar, 18, came on in the 89th minute and played a central role in a last-minute penalty that threatened to derail United’s Champions League hopes, but Andre Onana saved Larsson’s penalty of Jordan.An hour later, the brothers stand in front of the media and reflect on a “special feeling” sharing a pitch in “one of the most special stadiums in the world”.
But while Oscar returns to Copenhagen, Rasmus will be back at Old Trafford this weekend. It’s not even two years since the Danish giants sold him to Austria’s Sturm Graz for just £1.5million, but his rise since then has been meteoric. A move to Atalanta followed and then came a £72million switch to United.
However, he doesn’t seem like the type to let anything faze him. His confidence and engaging personality were evident the first time he spoke to a group of English journalists since joining the club.
Ahead of his United debut, Erik ten Hag highlighted Hojlund’s character and courage as reasons why he won’t wilt in the pressure cooker at Old Trafford and when it comes to that astronomical price tag, you can understand what the Dutchman means. That’s a lot of money for a relatively inexperienced 20-year-old currently leading the attack for one of the world’s most famous football clubs, but Hojlund isn’t feeling it.
“I know my worth. I know I have to perform every day because I play for Manchester United,” he said. “In the end, I am only 20 years old and I am not the finished article yet. I still have a lot to improve and I am getting there slowly.
“It has gone fast, but I have always had the self-belief and I want to improve every day, and that is the reason why I am here. Hopefully, I can keep my streak going upwards.”
The Hojlund brothers only saw each other for the first time before the game as they lined up in the tunnel, but Rasmus went into the visiting changing room after full-time to say hello to his former teammates. The senior Hojlund has quickly won over the Old Trafford faithful and there has been more than the odd groan when he was been replaced in games. He missed the entirety of pre-season as he waited for his move to go through and then arrived with a back injury that kept him sidelined until the start of September.
A proud night for the Hojlund clan. Rasmus and Oscar on the same pitch and doing a joint interview in the mixed zone for Danish media after the game #mufc pic.twitter.com/TvbpHZ1WPL
— Tyrone Marshall (@TyMarshall_MEN) October 24, 2023
Despite not scoring in the Premier League yet he has impressed in Europe, with three goals in the Champions League, including an excellent double against Galatasaray. Hojlund believes the bond he has already formed with the fans comes about as a result of his character on the pitch, while he isn’t about to let an opportunity to represent the club he supported as a child pass him by.
“I play for my boyhood club. I have always supported Manchester United, so I am living my dream every day,” he said. “I try to show personality and want to give 110 per cent every time I play a football match, so maybe that is the reason why they are showing a special bond towards me.
“I’ve tried my best every time I play, and I still need to find the rhythm. We have been struggling a little bit, but we are getting there now. We have had three wins in a row, so that is very positive.”
Two of Hojlund’s goals have been assisted by Marcus Rashford and the striker believes there is a “good connection” brewing with last season’s top scorer, who played one excellent pass into him against FC Copenhagen. He also believes his teammates are beginning to “see my patterns in the game” and that improvement is coming quickly. There would be no better stage to demonstrate that than Old Trafford on Sunday.
Hojlund would love to open his Premier League account against City and can’t wait for his first taste of derby day in Manchester. When asked for his memories of this occasion growing up as a United fan, there is one he settles on almost immediately.
“The bicycle kick from Wayne Rooney, of course! Everybody remembers that, don’t they?” he said. A lot of the build-up to this weekend’s clash will focus on the battle between Hojlund and Haaland. While the former waits for his first Premier League goal, the latter has 61 in 66 games, but he is the senior man by three years and had much more experience before moving to the Etihad.
There is a similarity between the two in terms of their pace, power and physique, but it is also an easy comparison given they are both Scandanavian and even have names that aren’t too far apart. For Hojlund, the comparisons are far too early, but in a manner that sums up the confidence coursing through him, he leaves the door ajar to just how good he might become.
“Like I’ve said many times, I don’t want to be compared to him. He is incredible and probably the best striker in the world right now,” the Dane said. “We can keep that on the low for now, but I hope I can improve and then we will see what I am capable of.”
