“He Doesn’t Know Where He’s Supposed to Be” – One United Star Slammed After Poor Display in Manchester United Defeat to Wolves
Rasmus Højlund's struggles continue as Manchester United suffer another Premier League defeat, with critics questioning his movement, confidence, and overall impact in front of goal.
Manchester United’s poor Premier League season continued on Sunday as they lost 1-0 against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford. That result makes it 15 league defeats this season for Ruben Amorim’s side, and the pressure continues.
Although the defense, which included young debutant Tyler Fredicson and Harry Amass, received some praise for keeping things tight, the main criticism after the match was aimed at United’s attack – and in particular, Rasmus Højlund.
The 22-year-old Danish striker failed to impress once again and was taken off in the 70th minute for youngster Chido Obi. He only managed an expected goals (xG) value of 0.07, showing just how little threat he offered. In comparison, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount had much higher xG numbers at 0.40 and 0.49, despite not being strikers.
| Stat | Rasmus Højlund |
|---|---|
| Minutes Played | 70 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 0.07 |
| Expected Assists (xA) | 0.00 |
| Shots on Target | 0 |
| Total Shots | 1 |
| Passes Completed | 25th among teammates |
| Expected Assists Rank | 16th among teammates |
| Key Chances Created | 0 |
| Touches in Opponent’s Box | Very Few |
| Notable Involvement | Missed chance from Garnacho cross |
Højlund’s link-up play also struggled. He ranked 16th in expected assists and 25th for completed passes among United players on the day.
ESPN reporter Rob Dawson was among those who criticized Højlund’s performance. He posted on social media, saying: “There’s no lack of effort with Højlund, but his movement and anticipation is so poor for this level. He doesn’t ever seem to understand where he’s supposed to be. Confidence being on the floor obviously doesn’t help either.”
Hojlund going off. Chido on in his place. There's no lack of effort with Hojlund, but his movement and anticipation is so poor for this level. He doesn't ever seem to understand where he's supposed to be. Confidence being on the floor obviously doesn't help either.
— Rob Dawson (@RobDawsonESPN) April 20, 2025
Even though Højlund made some good runs and nearly connected with a cross from Garnacho, the overall verdict was the same — not good enough.
This season, Højlund has only scored three goals in the Premier League, which is a major step down from the 10 he scored last season. Interestingly, he’s been much better in the Europa League, where he’s been involved in seven goals across 12 games. The reason for this inconsistency between the two competitions remains unclear.
With Manchester United reportedly looking at other attacking optioons like Ollie Watkins and Eberechi Eze, Højlund may soon find his place in the team under threat. If he doesn’t improve his performances quickly, he may be replaced in the starting lineup.
