Rio Ferdinand believes that Rasmus Hojlund is being "starved" at Manchester United, and has suggested his team-mates are reluctant to pass to him.
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Ferdinand fuming at United's wingersSuggests Antony & Garnacho don't want to pass to himDefends Hojlund's modest outputWHAT HAPPENED?
The Danish striker has scored eight goals in 26 appearances for United to date, with just two of them coming in the Premier League since his £73m ($93m) move to the Premier League from Atalanta. Although he did score against Newport County in a 4-2 win in the FA Cup, it came from his only shot of the game as United mustered 22 in total, and Ferdinand is concerned about a lack of service to the frontman.
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Hojlund has reportedly received the least passes among all strikers in the Premier League, which highlights the lack of service that the striker receives from his team-mates. Ferdinand was incensed with United's wide players at Newport, and has suggested that the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Antony are avoiding Hojlund on purpose.
WHAT FERDINAND SAID
Ferdinand said on hisFIVE podcast:"We keep saying it, it’s a broken record: Put the ball in the bloody box. Put the ball in and around him [Hojlund] when you’re in the wide areas. Don’t try and make it too pretty.
"He makes good runs when they’re out wide, I’ve seen enough of him close enough to see he makes good runs. But the people from wide areas have got to be told to put that bloody ball in the box. He’s not been allowed to be greedy enough. He’s starved, my man is being starved! He’s dealing with rations at the moment. I don’t know why. Are they looking at him and thinking 'he’s dry, I can’t play him the ball'?"
DID YOU KNOW?
Antony and Garnacho had 11 shots between them against Newport, compared to Hojlund's one which further emphasises Ferdinand's point that the striker hardly gets any service from his wingers. The United legend has urged the team to "direct everything" towards Hojlund to get the "best out of him" as he is also dealing with the pressure of justifying his hefty price tag.
"As he is the club’s No.9 now they’ve got to really make sure they’re directing everything that’s going to get the best out of him," Ferdinand said. "He’s under huge pressure, imagine being him with Erling Haaland on the other side, still the top scorer but ain’t played for five weeks, sitting there chilling. And never mind the rest of the Premier League, the pressure all lies on the price he comes for. Surely you’ve got to find a way to get the best out of him."