MU reveals tactical flaw from Hojlund's anger

Hojlund has not lived up to expectations at Manchester United.

The goalless draw with Leeds in Sweden on July 19 once again exposed the worrying reality of Manchester United. The “Red Devils” are lacking vitality, lacking ideas and most importantly, lacking a strong enough attack to make things happen.

The image of Rasmus Hojlund getting angry with Diogo Dalot was just the last straw, reflecting a team struggling to find its identity.

Hojlund - the lonely striker's frustration

It has become a “habit” every summer: Manchester United enter the pre-season with an unconvincing, even disappointing performance. The 0-0 draw with Leeds was just the next chapter in that series of lackluster performances. No goals, no breakthroughs and hardly any confidence ahead of the US tour.

This scene reminded people of how Manchester United ended last year’s friendly series with a 0-3 loss to Liverpool. A month later, Liverpool repeated the same scenario in the Premier League. Clearly, the signals from the “warm-up” series cannot be ignored, because it directly reflects unresolved issues within the squad.

The highlight of the Leeds game was the moment Hojlund lost his temper with Dalot. “F**k’s sake,” he shouted as his teammate hesitated to pass the ball, fearing he was offside. It was not just a knee-jerk reaction, but the result of a striker lacking confidence, lacking support and under immense pressure as the club continued to search for a new No.9.

Hojlund is at risk of being kicked out of MU.

Hojlund was criticised for his inconsistent form and negative body language last season, and the Leeds game showed that this has not been addressed. He looked lost, failed to make an impact, and when the rare chance came – like a header from Dalot’s cross – he failed to take it.

In the late Kobbie Mainoo shot that hit the crossbar, Hojlund was in a position to... pass the ball instead of waiting to shoot. A striker lacking the “killer” instinct is something Manchester United cannot accept, especially when the attack is already deadlocked.

Dalot is not a bad defender, but his inconsistency has left Manchester United struggling on several occasions. Against Leeds, Dalot was slow to react, passed late or was indecisive.

When the connection between full-back and centre-forward is weak, the attack fails to fire. The moment Dalot bypassed Hojlund to pass to Patrick Dorgu in injury time left the Dane frustrated again - a picture that showed the cracks in an already frayed connection.

Rare bright spots

At 39, Tom Heaton was Manchester United's best player again, making two excellent saves from Ramazani and Jayden Bogle, providing a sense of security that Onana's replacement, Altay Bayindir, did not provide. But a standout goalkeeper in a friendly cannot mask the fact that the club has little to cheer about.

Cunha was a bright spot in the match where MU drew 0-0 with Leeds.

The only positive point came from Matheus Cunha. The Brazilian player showed a strong personality and commanding spirit right from his first appearance, ready to discipline his junior Chido Obi after a wrong move.

Cunha's presence is reminiscent of Bruno Fernandes when he first arrived at Old Trafford - decisive, not afraid of conflict and wanting to become the leading nucleus. But Cunha alone is not enough to rescue an attack lacking cohesion and ideas.

Coach Ruben Amorim continues to maintain the tactic of replacing the entire squad at half-time - a method that Erik ten Hag used in friendly matches. This rotation method always causes the club's playing rhythm to be broken and lacks coherence.

The Leeds game brought back bad memories of a friendly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in May, when Manchester United were booed for a poor performance. Luckily, at least this time, they were not subjected to whistles from the stands.

Manchester United's biggest problem isn't a specific play, it's a system that lacks vitality. Hojlund may not be sharp enough, Dalot may not be explosive enough, but they are all symptoms of a disease: Manchester United have not found a stable framework and a clear enough playing style.

There is not much time left until the start of the season. If there is no change, the “Red Devils” will enter the new season with a psychological burden and a lifeless attack. And then, any attempt to patch things up in the transfer market will be no different than “putting out a fire” in a house that is rotten from the inside.

Source: https://znews.vn/mu-lo-lo-hong-chien-thuat-tu-con-buc-doc-cua-hojlund-post1570125.html