Rasmus Hojlund reveals how he avoided ‘going crazy’ as £72m star desperately chased first Man Utd goal
RASMUS HOJLUND admits the pressure of being Manchester United’s main striker could drive him crazy if he let it.
It was starting to build as well as he clocked up 14 appearances without a Premier League goal.
That red shirt coupled with a £64million price tag can weigh heavy and it is little wonder there was talk throughout all the media whether United had a dud.
Then on Boxing Day came the moment that he and all Red Devils fans will be hoping sets him off and running.
It was the 82nd minute when he hooked a volley in off the far post to complete an incredible comeback win for United from two goals down against Aston Villa.
The release of emotion showed just what it meant and was reward for staying positive despite the doubts building around him.
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Hojlund said: "I try not to focus too much about the media. If I did that, I would get crazy in my head. I just try to focus on my game and try to be better at the training pitch every day. The hard work pays off.
“Of course, there is a relief to score my first Premier League goal, but it isn't like I haven't scored goals; I've scored five in the Champions League. So, I was very happy and you can see the relief in my celebration.”
Relief and tears welling in his eyes and not just his either.
Up in the stand in a private box his father lent head down against a railing clearly emotional having witnessed his son score that winner.
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Fans celebrated with him and told him they had faith in his son.
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It was some moment on another one of those incredible Old Trafford nights that have punctuated a rollercoaster season.
Hojlund said: "It was nice. Of course, I was happy. You can see the relief in my celebration as well, but also the feeling of being the match winner and getting the three points at home against a good opponent. I'm a lucky and happy man.
“Like I said, I try to focus on my game every day. I don't listen to the media. If I did, I would be crazy.
“I just focus on my game, focus on winning football matches for Manchester United, focus on becoming better in front of goal and all the other attributes as well.”
Manager Erik ten Hag has had meetings with Hojlund to convince him that his time would come and the league goals would flow.
He pointed to those five Champions League goals in an otherwise disappointing Group A campaign that saw the team finish bottom and go out.
There are also those seven goals in ten games for Denmark.
He was bought from Atalanta where he had scored nine goals in 32 Serie A appearances.
Hardly prolific but Ten Hag saw something he knew he could work on and improve and has kept faith and now he has that Premier League goal.
Ten Hag said: “I know it will give him confidence from that point on. He will score more goals. I'm sure, when one is in, more will come. It's about belief and you have to take that and deserve that yourself by your investment. Keep believing and it will come. I talked with him. He's so happy.
“He is always so determined to score a goal and I think that's the character a striker needs."
To be fair to Hojlund the service has not been the best all season and that has to improve for more goals to come.
But in an incredible turnaround on Boxing Day night we saw what an attacking force United can be.
Marcus Rashford was looking back to his best and 19-year-old Alejandro Garnacho deservedly grabbed the man of the match award for his two goals.
Hojlund said: “Whether I am playing with Antony, Garnacho, Rashy, whoever is playing on the wings or in the No10 position, we have to find each other and create.
“I love to play with all of them. I am just a lucky man.”
It was some way to kick off the new Sir Jim Ratcliffe era after the INEOS boss acquired 25 per cent of the club on Christmas Eve while taking charge of football operations.
His sporting director Sir Dave Brailsford was there to see it all unfold, to witness the sort of magic Old Trafford can still conjure up.
The question of course is whether United can build on what was only their second win in eight in all competitions.
They cannot keep relying on dramatic moments at Old Trafford like we have also seen against Nottingham Forest when they came from two down to win 3-2.
Then there was the two goals to beat Brentford in injury time.
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A season cannot bounce along like that.
For now at least Hojlund, his dad, and all United fans, can be happy and hopeful that for a striker who could have "gone crazy" a corner might have been turned.