Manchester United strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have both struggled for goals this season – but only one has been called up for international duty this month
Rasmus Hojlund has been given a vote of confidence from the head coach of the Denmark national team.
The 22-year-old striker has now blanked in 20 consecutive games for Manchester United, who are languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League.
Brian Riemer has still called the Dane up for this month’s Nations League quarter-final with Portugal. And while Riemer thinks Hojlund will benefit from spending time away from Old Trafford during the international break, he concedes that picking the out of form striker is somewhat of a “compromise”.
He explained: “Rasmus Hojlund’s form speaks for itself. I can’t say anything else, because you know the numbers. I would prefer to select a team where the players are bursting with self-confidence and in top form.
“But sometimes you also have to compromise. My job is to find the balance of how many of those who are not in top form I can select. I think Rasmus Hojlund really benefits from coming here and getting some national love.”
Riemer went on to state that he was not concerned about Hojlund’s dry spell in front of goal before revealing that he has been in touch with the youngster during what has been one of his most difficult periods since moving to the Premier League.
He continued: “I’m not worried at all. Rasmus is a strong character. I’ve been in close contact with him. I’ve been in this game for many years. That’s football. It goes up and down. I don’t know any striker who hasn’t been in scoring crises. When he scored seven goals in six games in a row [last season for Manchester United], we were all ready with a 100-year contract.
“That’s football. Suddenly the boil pops up again, and then we’ve forgotten what happened. Rasmus is an important part of our team. With the qualities he possesses in terms of scoring goals and participating in our pressing game, we are happy to have him with us for the two upcoming international matches.”
Join the debate! What have you made of Hojlund and Zirkzee this season? Let us know here
While Hojlund has been backed by his national team boss, Joshua Zirkzee has been left out of the Netherlands’ preliminary squad for their quarter-final tie with Spain.
And Dutch chief Ronald Koeman didn’t hold back with his reasons for omitting the United striker, who has scored just six goals since his summer move from Bologna.
“He wasn’t in the preliminary selection because I don’t think he’s good enough at the moment,” Koeman told Studio Voetbal (via Sport Witness). “Especially scanning when turning or passing often goes wrong.
“Yes, in principle form and fitness are always leading, but that is not always possible. We have a lot of central defenders and midfielders, but we are somewhat limited up front.
“But even then, I still think that you have to earn your selection, and I think he doesn’t deserve that now, but that could be the case again in another period.”
Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp communityand receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Learn more
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £192 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
