Manchester United forward Rasmus Hojlund recently shared his sentiments regarding the relief he experienced upon scoring his inaugural goal in the Premier League, coupled with the satisfaction derived from quieting his detractors in online forums. Hojlund, aged 21, expressed his appreciation for finally dispelling doubts surrounding his performance, which had led to unfavorable comparisons with a popular TikTok personality during a period of goal drought.
The Danish striker, acquired by Manchester United for a sum of £72 million from Atalanta during the preceding summer, encountered initial challenges in finding the net. A sequence of 15 matches without a goal in the league prompted unfavorable likening to an Australian musician who had gained fame on TikTok.
Hojlund eventually ended his goal drought on Boxing Day against Aston Villa, subsequently embarking on a prolific scoring spree. Despite his gratification at breaking his Premier League duck, Hojlund emphasized his prior success in scoring goals for United in European competitions, notwithstanding the team’s premature exit from the Champions League.
In an interview with TV2 Sport, Hojlund articulated his sense of accomplishment, stating, “There I thought: ‘Finally!’. It was great to silence the critics. It perturbed me somewhat that considerable attention was given to my yet-unachieved Premier League goal, while my status as top scorer in the Champions League received comparatively little recognition. Rectifying this disparity was particularly gratifying.”
Hojlund proceeded to set a record as the youngest player in Premier League history to score in six consecutive matches after breaking his domestic goal drought during the festive season. He has amassed a total of 13 goals across all competitions for Manchester United thus far in the season.
Despite his commendation for the support extended by the majority of Manchester United’s fanbase following his arrival, Hojlund acknowledged the existence of negative sentiment directed towards him. Consequently, he disclosed his decision to curtail his use of social media platforms, particularly in the lead-up to matches, owing to the detrimental impact of such interactions.
He elaborated, “While I have felt overwhelming support since my arrival, it is evident that my achievements have also attracted scrutiny and envy. Although positive feedback has been prevalent, I have encountered negative commentary that necessitated discernment. Recognizing the limited utility of such engagements, I resolved to minimize my exposure to social media before matches.”